screenwriting

noun

screen·​writ·​ing ˈskrēn-ˌrī-tiŋ 

: the writing of screenplays : the activity or occupation of a screenwriter

He studied … screenwriting at film school …

—Eileen Cartter

Another friend called to borrow a how-to book on screenwriting. "You want to write a screenplay?" I asked her.

—Ann Hood

After graduating, she is cast in a film that leads to a successful career in screenwriting.

—Maylee Chai

Examples of screenwriting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Shockingly, Leigh himself has never been nominated at the Globes for either directing or screenwriting, despite garnering seven Oscar noms throughout his career. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026

Chavez had previously been in horror screenwriting groups, but they were usually composed of white writers. — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

The project awards five scholarships, each lasting three years — the entire duration of the training program — to five students enrolled in the directing, acting, screenwriting, editing and production design courses. — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026

His work has received multiple awards, including Filmfare and Asian Academy Creative Awards for directing and screenwriting. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined above