Meaning & use

stage direction

noun·Academic

An instruction in the text of a play describing an actor's movements, tone, or the setting rather than the dialogue.

See it in a sentence

The stage direction indicated that the character should exit quietly through the side door.

Stage directions in the script specified dim lighting for the entire final scene.

A note on using this word

Stage directions are usually printed in italics within a script and are not meant to be spoken aloud by actors.

Words with a similar meaning

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