drama

[ drah-muh, dram-uh ]

noun

1. a composition in prose or verse presenting in dialogue or pantomime a story involving conflict or contrast of character, especially one intended to be acted on the stage; a play.
2. the branch of literature having such compositions as its subject; dramatic art or representation.
3. the art dealing with the writing and production of plays.
4. any situation or series of events having vivid, emotional, conflicting, or striking interest or results:

   the drama of a murder trial.

5. the quality of being dramatic.

drama

/ ˈdrɑːmə /

noun

1. a work to be performed by actors on stage, radio, or television; play
2. the genre of literature represented by works intended for the stage
3. the art of the writing and production of plays
4. a situation or sequence of events that is highly emotional, tragic, or turbulent

Other Words From

• mini·drama noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of drama¹

First recorded in 1505–15; from Late Latin, from Greek drâma “action (of a play),” from drá(ein), drâ(n) “to act, do” + -ma, noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of drama¹

C17: from Late Latin: a play, from Greek: something performed, from drān to do

Example Sentences

Teal debuted on Season 7 of the teen drama in 2010, playing the closeted actor in a seven-episode arc that ended with him coming out to as gay.

From Los Angeles Times

Davis became the first Black woman to win an Emmy for lead actress in a drama series in 2015 for her work in “How to Get Away with Murder.”

From Los Angeles Times

Three years after his first stint on the WB, he landed the lead role of Lucas Scott in the soapy teen drama “One Tree Hill.”

From Los Angeles Times

One is an intimate empowerment ballad from a Tyler Perry historical drama on Netflix.

From Los Angeles Times

“A Different Man” is neither a straightforward drama nor a straight thriller.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• comedy
• farce
• melodrama
• play
• production
• scene
• show
• theater
• tragedy