picture show: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowOld-fashioned, Informal
Quick answer
What does “picture show” mean?
A presentation of moving pictures to an audience, typically in a theatre.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A presentation of moving pictures to an audience, typically in a theatre; a cinema film or movie.
Any visual presentation, display, or exhibition of images or scenes, sometimes used figuratively to describe a vivid mental image or an entertaining spectacle.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, historically common; now largely archaic. In the US, equally dated but perhaps more regionally preserved in certain dialects (e.g., Southern US).
Connotations
Both varieties evoke nostalgia for early cinema. UK usage might slightly favour 'the pictures' over 'picture show' even historically.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary use in both varieties, replaced almost entirely by 'film', 'movie', or 'cinema'.
Grammar
How to Use “picture show” in a Sentence
attend a picture showtake someone to a picture showthe picture show starts atVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “picture show” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A – not used as a verb.
American English
- N/A – not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A – not used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A – not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- N/A – not used attributively as a standard adjective.
American English
- N/A – not used attributively as a standard adjective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in modern business contexts, except perhaps in historical company names.
Academic
Only used in historical or film studies contexts discussing early cinema culture.
Everyday
Extremely rare; used humorously or by older speakers to sound quaint.
Technical
Not a technical term in film production.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “picture show”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “picture show”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “picture show”
- Using it in a modern context unironically (e.g., 'Let's stream a picture show').
- Misspelling as 'pictureshow' (should be two words or hyphenated).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Very rarely. It's considered an old-fashioned term, mostly used for nostalgic effect or in historical contexts.
They mean the same thing, but 'picture show' is dated and evokes the early-to-mid 20th century experience of going to a cinema, while 'movie' is the standard modern term.
No, not idiomatically. It specifically refers to a cinema film/showing. Using it for television would be non-standard and confusing.
It is standard as two words ('picture show'), though historical hyphenation ('picture-show') is also found.
A presentation of moving pictures to an audience, typically in a theatre.
Picture show is usually old-fashioned, informal in register.
Picture show: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpɪk.tʃə ʃəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpɪk.tʃɚ ʃoʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the whole picture show (figurative: the entire situation/spectacle)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an old-fashioned projector showing moving PICTURES to an audience as a SHOW.
Conceptual Metaphor
ENTERTAINMENT IS A VISUAL DISPLAY; A STORY IS A SERIES OF IMAGES.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the term 'picture show' sound most natural today?