1
: a protective or ornamental device (such as a movable partition) shielding an area from heat or drafts or from view
2
: something that shelters, protects, or hides: such as
a
: a growth or stand of trees, shrubs, or plants
b
: a protective formation of troops, ships, or planes
c
: something that covers or disguises the true nature (as of an activity or feeling)
his geniality is just a screen
d(1)
: a maneuver in various sports (such as basketball or ice hockey) whereby an opponent is legally impeded or the opponent's view of the play is momentarily blocked
(2)
3
a
: a perforated plate or cylinder or a meshed wire or cloth fabric usually mounted and used to separate coarser from finer parts
b
: a system for examining and separating into different groups
c
: a piece of apparatus designed to prevent agencies in one part from affecting other parts
an optical screen
d
: a frame holding a usually metallic netting used especially in a window or door to exclude pests (such as insects)
4
a
: a flat surface on which a picture or series of pictures is projected or reflected
b
: the surface on which the image appears in an electronic display (as in a television set, radar receiver, or computer terminal)
also
: the information displayed on a computer screen at one time
5
: a glass plate ruled with crossing opaque lines through which an image is photographed in making a halftone
6
: the motion-picture medium or industry
screened; screening; screens
1
: to guard from injury or danger
2
a
: to give shelter or protection to with or as if with a screen
b
: to separate with or as if with a screen
also
: to shield (an opponent) from a play or from view of a play
3
a
: to pass (something, such as coal, gravel, or ashes) through a screen to separate the fine part from the coarse
also
: to remove by a screen
b(1)
: to examine usually methodically in order to make a separation into different groups
(2)
: to select or eliminate by a screening process
(3)
: to test or examine for the presence of something (such as a disease)
patients were screened for hepatitis
4
: to provide with a screen to keep out pests (such as insects)
5
a(1)
: to present (something, such as a movie) for viewing on a screen
(2)
: to view the presentation of (something, such as a movie)
b
: to present in a movie
screener
noun
Synonyms
Examples of screen in a Sentence
Noun
Don't sit too close to the screen or you'll get a headache.
A pop-up ad appeared on the screen.
When I go to the movies, I like to sit close to the screen.
Verb
A committee will screen candidates for the job, but the final hiring decision will be made by Ms. Brown.
We screen the kids' music so that we can approve what they listen to.
We'll be screening his latest film in two weeks.
Recent Examples on the Web
Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024
Photo: Zach Schiffman 9:30 p.m. At Singers in Bed-Stuy, RuPaul is on the screen, then CNN, then CNN with the audio turned off.
—Curbed Staff, Curbed, 6 Nov. 2024
Zac Ntim, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024
Her speech in Pittsburgh was screened live to a waiting crowd in Philadelphia, where a final rally would mark the end of her hundred-and-seven-day campaign.
—The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for screen 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
In video captured by NBC News’ crew on the ground in Gaza, Palestinians could be seen gathered in a makeshift shelter in Khan Younis watching the election results roll in on a television screen.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024
Photo: Zach Schiffman 9:30 p.m. At Singers in Bed-Stuy, RuPaul is on the screen, then CNN, then CNN with the audio turned off.
—Curbed Staff, Curbed, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
Produced by Elizabeth Woodward (Another Body) alongside directorial duo Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss (Girls State), The Shepherd and the Bear closed this year’s Camden International Film Festival and will screen next at IDFA.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024
Her speech in Pittsburgh was screened live to a waiting crowd in Philadelphia, where a final rally would mark the end of her hundred-and-seven-day campaign.
—The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for screen
Dictionary Entries Near screen
Cite this Entry
“Screen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screen. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
screen
1 of 2 noun1
: a device used to hide or protect
a window screen
2
: something that serves to shelter, protect, or conceal
a screen of fighter planes
3
: a network of wire set in a frame and used for separating different-sized parts (as of sand)
4
a
: a flat surface on which a picture or series of pictures is projected
b
: the surface on which the image appears in an electronic display (as in a television set or computer terminal)
5
: the motion-picture industry
a star of stage and screen
screen
2 of 2 verb1
: to guard from injury or danger
2
a
: to shelter, protect, or separate with or as if with a screen
b
: to pass through a screen to separate the parts of different sizes
screen gravel
c
: to remove by or as if by a screen
screens out much harmful radiation
d
: to examine in order to separate into groups or to select or eliminate
carefully screened everyone applying for the job
3
: to provide with a screen
screen a porch
4
: to project on a screen
screen a movie
Medical Definition
screen
1 of 2 transitive verb
: to test or examine for the presence of something (as a disease)
screen patients for prostate cancer
a test to screen donor blood for HIV and hepatitis C—Penni Crabtree
Penni Crabtreescreen
2 of 2Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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