amphitheatre

IPA/ˈæmfɪθɪətə(r)/
KK[ˈæmfəθiˈetɚ]IPA/ˈæmfɪθiːətər/

amphitheatre — noun

  • amphitheatresingular
  • amphitheatresplural

1. a large round or oval building, built without a roof in ancient Greece or Rome,

1.nounC1
Definition

a large round or oval building, built without a roof in ancient Greece or Rome, where audiences sat on stone seats rising in steps around a central floor to watch fights between gladiators, animal hunts, or plays.

Example

The Colosseum in Rome is the most famous Roman amphitheatre in the world.

the [adjective] amphitheatre — historical reference

Tourists climbed the worn stone steps of the amphitheatre at Pompeii.

amphitheatre at [place name]

Common collocations
  • Roman amphitheatre
  • ancient amphitheatre
  • ruined amphitheatre
  • amphitheatre at Pompeii
Synonyms
  • arena

    broader; any space for sport or fights, ancient or modern

  • coliseum

    often refers to large modern stadiums; sometimes used for the Roman one as a proper noun

Grammar Patterns

the amphitheatre at [place]

Usage Note

Subject is usually a specific named ancient site (the Colosseum, the amphitheatre at Pompeii). Often appears with the definite article and a place name attached by 'at' or 'in'.

Common Mistakes

The Colosseum is a famous coliseum.
The Colosseum is a famous amphitheatre.
'coliseum' in modern English usually means a large modern stadium; the ancient Roman type is an amphitheatre.

2. an outdoor performance space where the audience sits on curved tiers of seats th

2.nounC1
Definition

an outdoor performance space where the audience sits on curved tiers of seats that climb up around a central stage, used today for concerts, plays, and ceremonies.

Example

The orchestra performed Mozart at the open-air amphitheatre under a clear summer sky.

perform at the amphitheatre — venue use

Families spread blankets on the grass tiers of the park's small amphitheatre.

Common collocations
  • open-air amphitheatre
  • hillside amphitheatre
  • perform at the amphitheatre
  • natural amphitheatre
Synonyms
  • auditorium

    usually indoor; any space with tiered seating facing a stage

  • bowl

    informal; large outdoor amphitheatre, e.g. the Hollywood Bowl

Grammar Patterns

at the amphitheatre

perform at an amphitheatre

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1 by context: a modern amphitheatre is typically associated with present-day concerts, festivals, or ceremonies, often with adjectives like 'open-air', 'hillside', or 'park'. Sense 1 collocates with named ancient sites.

Common Mistakes

The concert was held at the stadium amphitheatre.
The concert was held at the open-air amphitheatre.
an amphitheatre is the curved tiered venue itself, not part of a stadium.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words name a large venue where crowds gather to watch events, but they differ in shape, era, and use. An 'amphitheatre' is round or oval and open to the sky, with seating that climbs in steps around a central floor; the word most often points to ancient Greek and Roman buildings. An 'arena' is the flat central area where the action happens, and by extension any modern indoor or outdoor venue for sports or shows. A 'coliseum' (capital C for the Roman one) is now a generic name for a very large modern stadium-style hall. A 'stadium' is a modern oval or rectangular venue, usually for sport. Compare: 'They explored the Roman amphitheatre at Verona' (ancient ruin) versus 'They watched basketball at the city arena' (modern indoor venue).

amphitheatre ↗arena ↗coliseum ↗stadium ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • amphitheatre seat
  • amphitheatre stage
  • amphitheatre ruins

Phrases

  • Roman amphitheatre
  • open-air amphitheatre
  • natural amphitheatre
  • hillside amphitheatre

Prepositions

  • at the amphitheatre
  • in the amphitheatre
  • around the amphitheatre

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

The word came into English in the late 1500s from Latin 'amphitheatrum', which the Romans had borrowed from Greek 'amphitheatron'. The Greek pieces are 'amphi-' meaning 'on both sides' or 'around' and 'theatron' meaning 'a place for viewing'. The shape of the building matched the name: while a Greek theatre had seats on only one side facing the stage, an amphitheatre had seats wrapping the whole way around the central floor — so people watched 'from both sides'. The modern sense of an outdoor concert venue grew out of this same image of curved tiered seating.