Unit 3 · New Headway Upper Intermediate Vocabulary List

a movie or TV program based on true stories giving facts about a particular person or event

"We watched a documentary about climbing Everest."

"We watched a fascinating documentary about the wildlife of the Amazon."

featuring a prominent or leading role, especially in a film, play, or production

"The starring actor was great."

"The highly anticipated movie is starring the acclaimed actress in her comeback role."

a thing that achieves great widespread popularity or financial success, particularly a movie, book, or other product

"The blockbuster was popular."

"The movie became a blockbuster worldwide."

someone who writes plays for the TV, radio, or theater

"The playwright succeeded."

"The playwright spent two years writing the script before the theater agreed to produce it."

the story of the life of a person, written by the same person

"Her autobiography was an instant bestseller."

"After years of hesitation, she finally decided to write her own autobiography to share her inspiring life journey."

someone who evaluates and provides opinions or judgments about various forms of art, literature, performances, or other creative works

"The critic wrote a review."

"The critic praised the performance but also pointed out a few weak parts."

a session of practice in which performers prepare themselves for a public performance of a concert, play, etc.

"We had a rehearsal today."

"The orchestra had a final rehearsal before the big concert to make sure every note was perfect."

a story, play, movie, etc. about a mystery or murder that the audience cannot solve until the end

"The whodunit kept me guessing until the end."

"The mystery novel is a classic whodunit where the reader must guess which character committed the crime before the detective reveals the truth."

the plot of a movie, play, novel, etc.

"The storyline is simple."

"The storyline became more exciting as the characters faced new problems."

a musical or dramatic performance that takes place in daytime, especially in the afternoon

"Afternoon matinee performance attended."

"We attended the afternoon matinee performance of the popular musical last Saturday with our friends."

a book, movie, play, etc. that continues and extends the story of an earlier one

"The sequel to the hit video game will be released next year."

"A spiritual sequel is a new work that is not a direct narrative continuation"

a book with a cover made from hard material such as cardboard, leather, etc.

"Buy the hardback book."

"She preferred to buy the hardback edition of the novel for its durability and aesthetic appeal."

a writer who explores characters, events, and themes in depth through long narrative stories, particularly novels

"She is a successful novelist with many bestsellers."

"A novelist often develops an intimate understanding of their character's psychology"

a type of folktale that typically features mythical creatures, magical events, and enchanted settings, often with a moral lesson or a happy ending

"The fairy tale was magical."

"The children loved hearing the fairy tale about the princess who kissed a frog and broke a wicked witch's curse."

a movie, novel, etc. with an exciting plot that deals with crime

"The thriller kept me guessing until the end."

"The thriller novel kept me guessing until the very last page when the killer was finally revealed."

a book with a cover that is made of thick paper

"The paperback was cheap."

"She preferred the paperback because it was light and easy to carry."

to seize or grab suddenly and firmly

"She clutched her purse tightly."

"The little girl clutched her favorite teddy bear tightly as she walked into the dark room alone."

informal or idle talk about others, especially their personal lives, typically involving details that may not be confirmed or verified

"She loves to gossip."

"She tried to avoid participating in the office gossip, preferring to focus on her work."

to warn someone of a possible danger, problem, or situation that requires their attention

"The alarm alerts everyone to danger."

"The security system will alert the police immediately if someone tries to break into the building at night."

a bright, focused light produced by a lamp, formerly used in theaters and other performance venues for stage lighting

"The actor was in limelight."

"The performers were bathed in the intense limelight as they took their final bows."

the quality to face danger or hardship without giving in to fear

"She has the courage to speak the truth."

"It took courage for her to quit her stable job and start her own business."

a set of printed pages that are held together in a cover so that we can turn them and read them

"Read this book."

"The librarian recommended a fascinating book about ancient civilizations and their mysteries."

a story that we can watch on a screen, like a TV or in a theater, with moving pictures and sound

"I like this film."

"The critically acclaimed film explored complex themes of loss and redemption with stunning cinematography."

to play or perform a role in a play, movie, etc.

"He acts in school plays."

"The young actor will act in his first movie next year and he is very excited about it."

the seats that are located near the stage in a theater

"Seats in the stalls."

"For the best view of the performance, we booked seats in the front stalls."

a room in a clothing store where people can try on items of clothing before buying them

"The dressing room is small."

"She spent a considerable amount of time in the dressing room trying on various outfits."

the part or character that an actor plays in a movie or play

"She played a key role."

"The actor's compelling role in the historical drama earned him critical acclaim."

a performance, typically in the context of theater, music, or other artistic events

"The theater program."

"The evening's program featured a variety of classical music performances and contemporary dance."

the events that are crucial to the formation and continuity of a story in a movie, play, novel, etc.

"The plot of the movie was too complicated to follow."

"The plot of the novel kept readers guessing until the very last chapter."

any theatrical performance that combines singing, dancing, and acting to tell a story

"Musical has singing and dancing."

"Musicals integrate songs and dances into the narrative where characters express emotions through performance numbers."

a selection from different parts of a movie, TV series, games, etc. shown before they become available to the public

"We saw a trailer for the new superhero film."

"The trailer for the upcoming thriller revealed just enough to build excitement."

a movie in which animated characters move

"Pixar is famous for its computer animation."

"The new animation film used advanced computer graphics to create stunning visual effects."

the act of presenting something such as a play, piece of music, etc. for entertainment

"The performance was entertaining."

"Her performance in the school play was outstanding and the audience gave her a standing ovation."

a person in charge of a movie or play who gives instructions to the actors and staff

"The film director won an Oscar award."

"The film director shouted "action" to start the scene, and the actors began performing their lines perfectly, having rehearsed them many times over the past few weeks."

a written text that a movie, show, or play is based on

"The actors studied their scripts carefully."

"The director asked the actors to memorize their scripts before rehearsals began."

a short break between different parts of a theatrical or musical performance

"We had an interval."

"The interval between acts allowed the audience to stretch their legs and get refreshments."

a situation where all seats, spaces, or accommodations are completely occupied, with no availability left

"It's a full house."

"Due to its popularity, the restaurant was a full house every night of the week."

one of the main sections of a book, with a particular number and title

"Read the next chapter."

"He decided to read the next chapter of the historical novel before going to sleep."

the part of the theater where performers, crew, and staff work away from the audience's sight

"The atmosphere backstage was tense before the premiere."

"Backstage, the crew worked quickly to prepare for the next act."

the large, white surface on which movies or pictures are projected

"Watch the big screen."

"The documentary was projected onto a massive screen for the entire audience to see."

a dangerous and difficult action that shows great skill and is done to entertain people, typically as part of a movie

"The stunt was dangerous."

"The stunt impressed the crowd."

a model of a human figure used for display or practice

"The tailor uses a dummy."

"The tailor adjusted the jacket on a dummy a human shaped mannequin before the client arrived for a fitting."

(of a person or thing) having been left alone or abandoned by others

"The house was deserted."

"The once bustling marketplace was now deserted, with only a few stray cats wandering."

the ability to face difficult or challenging situations with determination and resolve

"Show some nerve!"

"Despite the immense pressure, she displayed remarkable nerve to complete the challenging task."

to gradually fade in color or quality over time due to constant use or other factors

"The anesthesia wears off after surgery."

"The painkiller will wear off in about four hours so you should take another dose before you go to sleep tonight."