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amphitheater

amphitheater

22 4.9
A large open place with rising rows of seats around a middle area where people watch events
  • noun
  • /ˌæmfɪˈθiːətər/
  • US
: anfiteatro
  • Introduction to Twentieth-Century Music was held in the amphitheater of the Music School, on the far edge of the quad.
  • an outdoor amphitheater
  • a large amphitheater
  • a natural amphitheater

Where else would you have an Amphitheatre a mile in length?

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Examples

  • We gathered for the ceremony in a natural amphitheater in the woods under a canopy of leaves.

    Academic text (2000)
  • The most famous surviving Roman Amphitheatre is the Colosseum.

  • Good evening from the International Amphitheater in Chicago.

  • Sitting as I do at the back of the amphitheater meeting hall,

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The Mass was in a small amphitheater generally used for classes.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • This amphitheater has stood for a hundred years.

  • The performance is about to begin in the amphitheater.

  • I was walking in the rose garden, and I ended up in the little amphitheater.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Nuevo Circo was the largest amphitheater in Caracas at that time.

    Academic text (1998)
  • The performance is about to begin in the amphitheater.

Synonyms

theater
vsamphitheater
  • US
998 1.0

A building where people go to see plays or movies

is characterized by seating that rises around a central open area for many events
stadium
vsamphitheater
516 1.4

A large open building with seats around a field for sports or concerts

focuses on a rounded seating arrangement surrounding a central open area
venue
vsamphitheater
209 3.5

A place where a public event or meeting happens, like a concert

is more specific referring to a structured seating area around a central open space
arena
vsamphitheater
186 2.9

A large building with seats where people watch sports or concerts

has seating rising around a central open area rather than flat floor layouts
auditorium
vsamphitheater
90 3.7

A large room with seats where people sit to watch or listen to events

refers to the whole venue of rising outer seating around an open central area
coliseum
vsamphitheater
41 4.7

A large building like a sports stadium with many seats for events

is a broad circular seating layout around a central open area for events
pavilion
vsamphitheater
37 4.4

A large tent or open-sided building used outdoors for events

is more permanent with rising seating surrounding a central activity area
opera house
vsamphitheater
33 3.0

A building where people watch operas and musical shows

is more general, hosting sports shows lectures and other public events
concert hall
vsamphitheater
26 2.5

A large building or room where people hear live music, especially classical

has a more open audience layout for varied public spectacles beyond concerts
sports arena
vsamphitheater
10 2.5

A large indoor building with seats for people to watch sports like basketball or hockey

is more open in shape and used for a wider range of public events
sports stadium
vsamphitheater
5 2.5

A large outdoor building with seats for many people to watch sports or concerts

covers similar uses but includes performances and other public gatherings
odeon
vsamphitheater
1 9.8

An old Greek and Roman theatre for music and poetry

is broader and used for many event types beyond music and poetry
arena theater
vsamphitheater
  • US
1 4.4

A stage with seats on three or more sides so the audience sits close

uses seating that runs fully around a central area rather than a single front

How Big

stadium
516 1.4
arena
186 2.9
amphitheater
  • US
22 4.9
venue
209 3.5
theater
  • US
998 1.0

Surface Forms

amphitheater singular
amphitheaters plural
amphitheatres plural
amphitheatre singular

Morphology

amphitheater = theater (semi-transparent) = amphi + theater + amphi

The word is clearly a type of 'theater', but the combining form 'amphi-' (meaning 'both' or 'around') is not likely to be known by a B1 learner, so the full spatial sense is not fully deducible.

Etymology

Amphitheater comes from Greek parts amphi- meaning 'on both sides' and theatron meaning 'a place for viewing' or 'to see'. So an amphitheater is like a 'place to see on both sides', which fits its round shape with seats rising around a central area so people can watch from all around.