dramatic
adjective
dra·mat·ic
drə-ˈma-tik 
1
literature
: of or relating to drama
a dramatic actor
… has earned three Oscar nominations for his dramatic roles …—
Nellie Andreeva
… offers an outstanding vocal and dramatic performance …—Alison Norton
2
a
: suitable to or characteristic of drama (as in being very exciting or moving)
a dramatic story
a dramatic attempt to escape
a dramatic comeback
b
: sudden and extreme
a dramatic increase/decrease in sales
a dramatic improvement
The changes have had a dramatic impact.
c
: striking in appearance or effect
The speaker made a dramatic pause before the big announcement.
… made a dramatic entrance … in a larger-than-life princess ballgown that encompassed the red carpet.—Alyssa Morin
d
: having or showing a tendency to behave or react in an exaggerated way
a dramatic sigh
'This is the most beautiful place in the world,' I gasped. 'You're so dramatic, Jessica,' he said, laughing.—Jessica Fox
I started to think, "What if people aren't interested in me, or us, by the end of this pandemic? What am I going to do for the rest of my life?" I don't know why I thought like that. Now that I think about it, I'm so dramatic.—Roseanne Chaeyoung Park
3
of an opera singer
: having a powerful voice and a declamatory style compare lyric
Examples of dramatic in a Sentence
His parents noticed a dramatic change in his behavior.
There was a dramatic increase in prices.
The book tells the dramatic story of her battle with cancer.
She made a dramatic entrance wearing a bright red dress.
There was a dramatic pause before his big announcement.
The painter used dramatic colors.
They are members of the local dramatic society.
Recent Examples on the Web
Given Trump’s order, the release of all this information sounded dramatic, but much of what has been revealed is about as interesting as that driver’s-license detail.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2025
Former Reba co-stars Melissa Peterman (as Gabby, the needy and dramatic bartender) and Reba McEntire already have proven chemistry, and any scene between the two is a lightning rod for plenty of chuckles.
—Marc Berman, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
But when his pre-algebra teacher turns into a monster, Percy’s life takes a dramatic turn.
—Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
For the life-forms uncovered in Bellingshausen Sea, the dramatic loss of their former iceberg ceiling may rock their ecosystem.
—Ashley Balzer Vigil, Scientific American, 21 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Dramatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dramatic. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.
Kids Definition
dramatic
adjective
dra·mat·ic
drə-ˈmat-ik
1
: of or relating to drama
a dramatic actor
2
a
: suitable to or resembling that of drama
a dramatic escape
b
: attracting attention
made a dramatic entrance
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