screen
screen — noun
1. a flat, usually rectangular surface on a computer, phone, television, or in a ci
a flat, usually rectangular surface on a computer, phone, television, or in a cinema, where words, pictures, and videos appear.
Yumi looked at her phone screen and saw three new messages.
possessive + screen for phone display
The cinema has a huge screen that fills the front wall.
huge screen for cinema display
Brandon cleaned his computer screen with a soft cloth.
A message appeared on the screen asking for a password.
on the screen — common preposition
The doctor checked the patient's X-ray on a large screen.
- phone screen
- computer screen
- on screen
- screen size
- touch screen
Grammar Patterns
screen + of + noun
on + the/someone's + screen
Usage Note
Often combined with the name of the device: phone screen, computer screen, laptop screen, TV screen. When referring to the cinema, screen is the physical surface; the films themselves are shown on the screen.
Common Mistakes
2. a movable or fixed vertical panel that divides a space, hides something from vie
a movable or fixed vertical panel that divides a space, hides something from view, or provides protection — for example, a folding room divider, a privacy screen in an office, or a wall of trees that blocks the wind.
Ignacio placed a folding screen between the bed and the desk for privacy.
folding screen as room divider
A tall screen of trees protects the garden from the strong wind.
screen of trees — natural barrier
The nurse pulled a screen around the bed so the patient could change.
The hospital uses screens to separate patients in large shared rooms.
hospital screens for patient privacy
- folding screen
- screen of trees
- privacy screen
- pull a screen around
Grammar Patterns
screen + between
screen of + noun
Usage Note
Can describe both human-made objects (folding screens, hospital screens) and natural barriers (a screen of trees, a screen of bushes). The object can be solid or translucent — its purpose is to block sight or create separation.
Common Mistakes
3. television as a medium or industry — the programs, news, and entertainment that
television as a medium or industry — the programs, news, and entertainment that people watch on TV.
The prime minister appeared on the screen to address the nation live.
on the screen — television broadcast context
Mei has worked in front of the screen for over twenty years as a newsreader.
in front of the screen — metonym for TV work
Many young actors dream of making it onto the small screen.
the small screen — idiom for television
Hana spent the whole evening in front of the screen watching documentaries.
- the small screen
- the big screen
- return to the screen
- television
the direct term; screen is a more informal, journalistic substitute
- TV
more common in everyday speech
Grammar Patterns
the screen
on (the) screen
Usage Note
Common in fixed phrases: the small screen (= television, contrasting with cinema), the big screen (= cinema). Typically used with the definite article. This sense is a metonym — the device name stands for the medium.
4. the film industry or the art and business of making movies — used to talk about
the film industry or the art and business of making movies — used to talk about cinema in general, not a specific device.
Layla studied screenwriting because she wants a career in film.
career in film — idiomatic for film industry
Rohan adapted his novel for the screen and won an award.
adapted for the screen — common collocation
Some stories work better on the screen than on the stage.
Samir's first script was brought to the screen by a famous director.
brought to the screen — film adaptation idiom
- adapt for the screen
- write for the screen
- return to the screen
Grammar Patterns
the screen
Usage Note
Often contrasted with the stage (theatre). Phrases like write for the screen or bring something to the screen refer to film adaptation rather than theatre.
5. a seemingly lawful person, business, or activity that conceals something illegal
a seemingly lawful person, business, or activity that conceals something illegal or secret underneath — for instance, a small shop that secretly operates as a place for selling stolen goods.
Tamar used the restaurant as a screen for her illegal gambling business.
screen for — hiding illegal activity
The charity was a screen for money laundering.
Police suspected the travel agency was nothing but a screen for drug trafficking.
nothing but a screen for — emphasises deception
The online store was just a screen for a credit card fraud ring.
- screen for
- use as a screen
- nothing but a screen
Grammar Patterns
screen for + noun
Usage Note
Subject is always a thing (business, organisation, activity) hiding another thing. Never used for a literal object in this sense — for the physical divider, see sense 2.
6. an attacking play in American football where the quarterback passes to a receive
an attacking play in American football where the quarterback passes to a receiver who has moved to a spot past the starting line, while teammates run ahead to shield that player from defenders.
Noa caught the ball on a screen and ran fifteen yards before being tackled.
on a screen in American football context
The quarterback called a screen to slow down the defence.
Jason's coach drew up a screen play on the whiteboard during practice.
The defensive line read the screen quickly and stopped the play for a loss.
- call a screen
- screen play
- throw a screen
- screen pass
the full term; screen is a shortened form
Usage Note
Only used in American football contexts. The shortened form screen (from screen pass) is standard in sports commentary. Outside North America, this sense is not understood.
7. in basketball, ice hockey, and similar sports, an action where an offensive play
in basketball, ice hockey, and similar sports, an action where an offensive player stands in front of a defender to block their movement, giving a teammate space to shoot or pass.
Ramón set a screen for his teammate, allowing her to take an open shot.
set a screen — standard basketball collocation
The coach taught the players how to move after setting a screen.
Otis ran across the court and set a solid screen near the three-point line.
Yasmin slipped past the defender after her teammate set a strong screen.
- set a screen
- screen away
- run a screen
Usage Note
Commonly used in basketball and ice hockey. The verb phrase set a screen is the standard collocation in coaching. In basketball, the term pick is more common in informal play; screen is the formal coaching term.
8. a mesh of fine wire or plastic held inside a rectangular frame and fitted into a
a mesh of fine wire or plastic held inside a rectangular frame and fitted into a window opening or a doorway, allowing air to pass through while preventing insects from coming inside.
Ada opened the window but kept the screen closed to keep mosquitoes out.
screen vs. window — distinct objects
The screen door banged shut behind Mert as he went into the garden.
screen door — common compound noun
Lakshmi replaced the torn screen on the kitchen window with a new one.
A small hole in the window screen let a single fly into the house.
window screen — common compound
- window screen
- screen door
- screen mesh
- replace a screen
- torn screen
- mesh
the material itself rather than the frame; a screen is mesh + frame
- fly screen
more common in British English and Australia
Grammar Patterns
window screen
screen door
Usage Note
Common in warmer climates where windows are opened frequently. A screen door is a separate door made of mesh in a frame. In British English, this object is sometimes called a fly screen or flyscreened window, though window screen is also understood.
Common Mistakes
This phrase describes whether something is being noticed or ignored by people.
The new environmental policy is finally on the radar of lawmakers.
After the scandal, her achievements fell off the radar completely.
screen — verb
1. to check a person or a group of people for a specific disease, medical condition
to check a person or a group of people for a specific disease, medical condition, or illegal substance through systematic medical or laboratory procedures.
The clinic screened all new patients for high blood pressure.
screen + object + for + condition
Antonia was screened for breast cancer at the hospital last week.
passive: be screened for
The company screens job applicants for drug use before hiring.
All blood donations are screened for viruses before they are used.
- screen for
- screen patients
- screen applicants
- be screened
Grammar Patterns
screen + object + for + noun
be screened for + noun
Usage Note
Frequently passive. The preposition for introduces what is being tested for (disease, condition, substance). The subject is typically a medical institution, employer, or authority. Do not confuse with examine — screen implies a systematic test applied to many people, not a one-on-one physical exam.
Common Mistakes
2. to check who is calling on the phone before deciding whether to answer — for exa
to check who is calling on the phone before deciding whether to answer — for example, by looking at the caller ID or letting an answering machine pick up first.
Gabriel screens all his calls during dinner and never picks up.
screen calls — common collocation
Baraka let the machine answer so he could screen the caller.
screen the caller — direct object is the person
João screens his phone calls when he does not recognise the number.
Trang screened every call during the meeting and only answered urgent ones.
- screen calls
- screen a caller
- screen phone calls
Grammar Patterns
screen + object (calls/callers)
screen + object's + calls
Usage Note
Most common in informal contexts. The object can be calls (the things being checked) or callers (the people). This sense does NOT apply to emails or messages — use filter or vett for those.
Common Mistakes
3. to show a film, television programme, or video to an audience in a cinema, at a
to show a film, television programme, or video to an audience in a cinema, at a festival, or on a broadcast channel.
Sofie's short film was screened at the international festival.
be screened at + venue — passive form
The cinema is screening the new documentary all week.
cinema screening — present continuous
The network will screen the final episode on Friday night.
network will screen — broadcasting context
Eshe's first movie was screened in twelve countries after its release.
- screen a film
- screen a documentary
- be screened at
- screening of
Grammar Patterns
screen + object (film/programme)
be screened at/in + place
Usage Note
More formal than show. Used for official or scheduled presentations (film festivals, cinema releases, television broadcasts). For casual at-home viewing, use watch or stream instead.
Common Mistakes
4. to protect someone or something from harm, danger, or an unpleasant view, by pla
to protect someone or something from harm, danger, or an unpleasant view, by placing something between them and the source of the threat — for example, using an umbrella to block the sun.
Lauren held up a newspaper to screen her face from the bright sun.
screen + object + from + source
A row of tall trees screens the house from the road.
screens from — natural shielding
Élise used her hand to screen her eyes from the camera flash.
The fence screens the construction site from view.
- screen from
- screen from view
- screen from the sun
- expose
to remove protection or reveal something
Grammar Patterns
screen + object + from + noun
Usage Note
Always followed by from + the thing being blocked. The object being protected can be a person, a body part (eyes, face), or a building. Unlike the TAKE BLAME sense (sense 5), this sense involves a physical barrier or gesture, not a social one.
Common Mistakes
5. to protect someone from blame, criticism, or punishment by taking responsibility
to protect someone from blame, criticism, or punishment by taking responsibility yourself or by preventing the truth from being known.
Piotr took the blame to screen his younger brother from punishment.
screen from punishment — protecting from consequences
The manager tried to screen the team from criticism after the failed project.
screen from criticism
Hari's colleagues screened him by saying they had all approved the plan together.
screen by + gerund — method of protection
Parents sometimes screen their children from the consequences of bad choices.
- screen from blame
- screen from criticism
- screen someone
- blame
to assign responsibility negatively rather than deflect it
Grammar Patterns
screen + object + from + noun (blame/consequences)
Usage Note
The object is the person being protected; the preposition from introduces the negative consequence (blame, criticism, punishment). Distinguish from sense 4 (SHIELD) which is about physical protection. This sense is about social or institutional protection.
Common Mistakes
6. to examine people or things carefully in order to decide which ones are suitable
to examine people or things carefully in order to decide which ones are suitable or acceptable for a particular purpose — for example, checking job applicants before inviting them for an interview.
The university screens all applicants for language proficiency before admission.
screen for — checking a quality
Zayd's company screens potential employees with background checks.
The committee screened twenty candidates and invited five for interviews.
screen + number + candidates — filtering process
All submitted proposals were screened before the conference committee reviewed them.
passive: were screened before — sequential process
- screen applicants
- screen candidates
- screen for suitability
- screen proposals
Grammar Patterns
screen + object (applicants/candidates)
screen + object + for + quality/trait
Usage Note
Overlaps with sense 1 (TEST), but sense 6 is about suitability (job, admission, membership) rather than medical conditions. The preposition for introduces the desired or undesired quality. Frequently passive in formal contexts.
Common Mistakes
screen out
phrasal verbto prevent something unwanted from entering, being seen, or being considered — for example, blocking sunlight, filtering noise, or rejecting unsuitable candidates.
Thick curtains screen out the morning light so the room stays dark.
The application system screens out candidates who do not meet the basic requirements.
screen off
phrasal verbto separate an area from the rest of a room by placing a screen or other barrier around it.
The nurse screened off the bed with a curtain for the examination.
They screened off a corner of the office for private phone calls.
on screen
idiomappearing or performed on a television, computer, or cinema display — as opposed to in real life or on stage.
The two actors are good friends off-screen but play enemies on screen.
On screen, the monster looks terrifying, but it was just a person in a costume.
off screen
idiomhappening in real life, not within the story of a film or television programme — used to contrast actors' private lives with their roles.
Off screen, the cast members are close friends who have dinner together every week.
The director says the characters are in love on screen but hate each other off screen.
the small screen
idiomtelevision as a medium, especially when contrasted with cinema (the big screen).
After years in films, Christopher Nolan is now directing a series for the small screen.
The actor moved from the big screen to the small screen and became famous on a TV show.
the big screen
idiomcinema or the film industry, especially when contrasted with television (the small screen).
The novel was adapted for the big screen and became a major box office success.
Many television actors dream of making it to the big screen.
Word family
- screeningnounB2
- unscreenverbC2
- screenwriternounB2
- screenplaynounB2
- screensavernounB1
- screenshotnounB1
- onscreenadjectiveB2
- off-screenadjectiveB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Screen is the broadest term for any surface that shows images or text — from a phone to a cinema wall. Display is more technical and often refers to the electronic component itself, as in 'LED display' or 'digital display', and is the standard term for signs and information boards. Monitor specifically means a computer screen that is a separate unit, typically with a stand, and is used when talking about desk setups or workplace equipment. Panel is the most technical and refers to the flat electronic layer inside a device (LCD panel, OLED panel), not the complete device with its casing. For everyday use, screen is the safest choice. Example: 'I need a new screen for my laptop' (the whole display assembly) vs. 'I need a new monitor for my home office' (a separate computer display) vs. 'The store uses a large digital display for promotions' (an information sign).
Common collocations
Nouns
- computer screen
- phone screen
- television screen
- touch screen
- window screen
- screen door
Adverbs
Phrases
- on the screen
- appear on screen
- screen of trees
- behind the screen
Prepositions
- screen for
- screen from
Etymology
Screen entered English from the Old French word 'escren' (meaning a piece of furniture that blocks heat or light), which itself came from a West Germanic root related to modern German 'Schirm' (a shield or umbrella). The original meaning was a physical barrier — a folding panel that keeps out drafts or hides something from view. By the 1600s, screen was used figuratively for anything that protects or conceals. In the late 1800s, with the invention of cinema, the word was adopted for the flat surface where films are projected — and later for television and computer displays. The verb uses followed the noun: to screen someone meant to protect them (literally, with a barrier) before it came to mean testing or examining (as in screening for disease). The modern sense of screening phone calls dates to the 1960s with the spread of answering machines.