as in script
the written form of a story prepared for film production
each actor will be given a copy of the screenplay to study
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Recent Examples of screenplay
Among the film’s many other accolades, Soderbergh would also be nominated for an Academy Award for original screenplay.
—
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
The film, with a screenplay written by her mother based on her own life, celebrates the director’s family as well as her alma mater.
—Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Last year, Enrique Lebrón won a prize the festival gives to the best screenplay for a short film that has not yet been made and is suitable to be filmed in the Hartford area.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2026
This year, a mere 15 films were nominated across the eight above-the-line categories (Picture, Director, acting, and screenplay), a number that has held steady over the past three seasons.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for screenplay
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
The film, with a screenplay written by her mother based on her own life, celebrates the director’s family as well as her alma mater.
—Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Last year, Enrique Lebrón won a prize the festival gives to the best screenplay for a short film that has not yet been made and is suitable to be filmed in the Hartford area.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2026
This year, a mere 15 films were nominated across the eight above-the-line categories (Picture, Director, acting, and screenplay), a number that has held steady over the past three seasons.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for screenplay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screenplay
script
Noun
-
Szoboszlai’s wonder goal pointed to a familiar script.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The shooting script ended with the Cygnus entering the black hole, but offered no instruction on what was to happen next.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Screenplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screenplay. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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