noun
drama
DRAH-muh
noun
1
A play written for the stage, television, radio, or film, acted out by performers taking on characters.
"She wrote a drama about a family torn apart by war."
"The channel is airing a new crime drama this autumn."
2
An intense, emotionally charged real-life situation or conflict.
"There was real drama at the meeting when the two managers argued."
3
Exaggerated, attention-seeking behaviour, gossip, or unnecessary conflict.
"She always creates drama over nothing on social media."
How to Use Drama
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA staged or filmed story, or — informally — needless conflict and exaggerated fuss in everyday life.
Common mistake
The informal sense ("stop making drama") is casual/slang and shouldn't be used in formal writing.
Common pairings
a TV drama
high drama
cause drama
drama queen
Word Forms
dramas plural, dramata plural
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She wrote a _____ about a family torn apart by war.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek drama, "an act" or "a play," from the verb draō, "to do" or "to act" — it reached English via Late Latin.