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offscreen

offscreen

2 4.0
Happens outside the area the camera or screen shows so you cannot see it
  • adjective
  • /ˌɔfˈskrin/
translation icon : fuera de pantalla
  • During the movie, you can hear a conversation happening offscreen that adds to the suspense.
  • an offscreen voice
  • an offscreen romance
  • offscreen drama

Examples

  • The older woman glanced offscreen a moment, then turned back.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Ledoux appears in medium shot, crouching, looking offscreen.

    Academic text (1998)

  • We hear her voice offscreen.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Ashley is offscreen, presumably lying on the bed.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • We are listening to an offscreen woman's voice.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • There are videos of her on her channel talking to someone offscreen that we've never met.

    Shelby Oaks (2025)

  • As we pan, we hear two voices offscreen: a boy's and a girl's. Girl's voice (O.S.)

    Fiction book (1994)

  • A door slams offscreen.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Heywood laughs too, offscreen.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Maxwell takes an hors d'oeuvre off a passing tray and nods to someone offscreen.

    Fiction book (1995)

Synonyms

offstage
vsoffscreen
2 4.2

At the side or behind the stage where the audience cannot see

is used for events outside camera or display view rather than theater hiding
out of frame
vsoffscreen
  • Specialized
1 5.8

Not visible inside a picture or not right for the situation

is used when action lies beyond what a camera or display shows

Antonyms

onscreen
13 3.1

Appears on a television, computer, or movie screen

How Visible

visible
398 1.0
onscreen
13 3.1
offscreen
2 4.0
hidden
125 1.1

Surface Forms

offscreen positive

Morphology

offscreen = screen (transparent) = off + screen

Meaning is directly derived from 'off' + 'screen' (not on or outside the displayed area), a straightforward compositional formation.

Etymology

Offscreen comes from the parts off ('away') and screen ('what you see on a screen or stage'). It describes actions or events that happen 'away from the camera', so the audience does not actually see them.