premiere

premiere — noun

1. the event when a film, play, or similar work is presented to an audience for the

1.nounB2
Definition

the event when a film, play, or similar work is presented to an audience for the first time

Example

Fans lined the street for the film's premiere in Taipei.

premiere in + city

The ballet's premiere drew school children, teachers, and reporters.

Common collocations
  • world premiere
  • film premiere
  • TV premiere
  • tickets for the premiere
Synonyms
  • debut

    close in meaning, but it is also widely used for a person's first public appearance

  • opening night

    narrower; it focuses on the first evening performance

  • launch

    broader and more commercial, often used for products or services

Antonyms
  • rerun

    a later showing after the first one

  • revival

    a new production of an older work, not its first public showing

Grammar Patterns

a film's premiere

have its premiere

world premiere

tickets for the premiere

Usage Note

Often follows the name of a film, play, or series, and commonly appears with words like world, TV, or Friday night.

Common Mistakes

The singer's premiere was in Taipei.
The singer's debut was in Taipei.
Premiere is mainly for a work or event, not for a person's first appearance.

premiere — verb

premiere — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Premiere usually names the first public showing of a film, play, series, or similar work. Debut is broader: a singer can make a debut, and a company can debut a product, while premiere mainly stays in entertainment. Opening night is narrower, because it points to the first evening performance rather than the event in general. Launch is broader and more commercial, often used for apps, brands, or campaigns, though media companies also launch shows. First showing is plain and descriptive, but it lacks the polished tone of premiere. You can say The documentary had its premiere in Busan, but Lina made her debut as a director. Friends may buy tickets for opening night, while a phone company launches a new service.

premiere ↗debut ↗opening nightlaunch ↗first showing

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Premiere came into English from French première, the feminine form of premier, meaning first. The French word goes back to Latin primarius and primus, which also carry the idea of being first. English first used premiere for the first public showing of a work, and later extended it to a verb for showing or performing something before the public for the first time.