1
: one of the subdivisions of a play: such as
a
: a division of an act presenting continuous action in one place
b
: a single situation or unit of dialogue in a play
the love scene
c
: a movie or television episode or sequence
2
a
: a stage setting
b
: a real or imaginary prospect suggesting a stage setting
a sylvan scene
3
: the place of an occurrence or action : locale
scene of the crime
4
: an exhibition of anger or indecorous behavior
He has stolen her salad, but she's too well-mannered to make a scene [=act in a disruptive way].—
Vincent Canby
Vincent Canby5
a
: sphere of activity
the drug scene
b
: situation
a bad scene
Phrases
behind the scenes
1
: out of public view
also
: in secret
2
: in a position to see the hidden workings
taken behind the scenes and told just how in fact the actual government … has operated—William Clark
William Clark
Examples of scene in a Sentence
The play's opening scene takes place in the courtyard.
The actor was nervous about his big scene.
Police are now at the scene.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Museum of Broadway Theater fans can get a behind the scenes look at some of their favorite shows at The Museum of Broadway, located in Manhattan’s Theatre District.
—Emma Kershaw, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
The Carter Center a nonprofit started by Mr. Carter after leaving the White House, shared a different photo on Thursday of the funeral scene.
—Neil Vigdor, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2025
Anthony and Jen were two of the kids in the opening scene.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 11 Jan. 2025
In the scene, an astronaut sees potential iterations of himself in the future.
—Skyler Trepel, People.com, 11 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for scene 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Emma Kershaw, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
The Carter Center a nonprofit started by Mr. Carter after leaving the White House, shared a different photo on Thursday of the funeral scene.
—Neil Vigdor, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2025
Anthony and Jen were two of the kids in the opening scene.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 11 Jan. 2025
In the scene, an astronaut sees potential iterations of himself in the future.
—Skyler Trepel, People.com, 11 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for scene
Dictionary Entries Near scene
Cite this Entry
“Scene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scene. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scene
noun1
a
: a division of an act during which there is no change of scene or break in time
b
: a single situation or conversation in a play
the love scene
c
: a small part of a motion picture or a television program
2
a
: a stage setting
change scenes
b
: a view or sight that looks like a picture
a winter scene
3
: the place of an event or action : locale
the scene of the crime
4
: a display of anger or misconduct
made a scene when accused of the crime
5
a
: area of activity
the music scene
b
: situation sense 3
the scene got serious when the police arrived
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