scenes

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   Separate parts of a play, film, or book in which one event happens in one place.

   Grammar: Plural of "scene"; use it when counting or naming more than one part, as in "two scenes".

   Patterns

   • scenes from a film/play
   • the opening/closing scenes
   • shoot/film scenes

   The best scenes in the movie are the quiet ones at the end.

   We studied three scenes from Shakespeare's play in class.

   The director cut two scenes to make the film shorter.

2. 2nounplural

   Places where events happen, especially when these are described or shown.

   Grammar: Plural of "scene"; often used with "of" to say what happened there: scenes of joy.

   Patterns

   • scenes of something
   • scenes from somewhere

   Television showed scenes of flooding across the region.

   Reporters described scenes of celebration in the city center.

3. 3nounfixed phrase

   Used in the phrase "behind the scenes" to mean secretly or away from public view.

   Grammar: Always plural in this idiom; it works as an adverb phrase: work behind the scenes.

   Patterns

   • behind the scenes

   She works behind the scenes to keep the event running smoothly.

   Behind the scenes, the two leaders had already agreed on a deal.

Word forms

Common combinations

scenes of violence

The film was criticized for its scenes of violence.

behind the scenes

Much of the planning happens behind the scenes.

opening scenes

The opening scenes introduce the main character.

scenes from a movie

He posted scenes from a movie he loves.

shoot a scene

They shot the scene in one afternoon.

Synonyms and how they differ

episodes

Use "episodes" for parts of a TV series or a story told in stages, while "scenes" are single moments in one place.

clips

"Clips" are short pieces of video taken from a longer film; a scene is a story unit, not just a piece of footage.

Word family

scene noun

One part of a play, film, or book; also a place where something happens.

scenery noun

The natural views in a place, or the painted background on a stage.

scenic adjective

Having beautiful natural views, as in a scenic route.

Commonly confused: scenes or screens? scenes or scents?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “scenes”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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