choreograph
/ˈkɒr.i.ə.ɡrɑːf/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To arrange the steps and movements for a dance, performance, or scene. It can also mean to plan and organize actions carefully.
- She choreographed a beautiful wedding dance.
- He choreographed the whole event carefully.
- The director choreographed the fight scene.
Adinary Nuance
Choreograph is more specific than plan or arrange. Use it when someone designs movements, especially in dance or staged scenes. In modern writing, it can also mean organizing actions very carefully, but that use is more figurative.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- biên đạo
- Spanish
- coreografiar
- Chinese
- 编舞
- Japanese
- 振り付ける
- Korean
- 안무하다
Etymology
From Greek khoros meaning “dance” and graphein meaning “write.” It entered English in the early 20th century, first in dance.
Common phrases
choreograph a dancechoreograph a scenechoreograph a routinechoreograph an event
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is choreograph only used for dance?
- No. It is common in dance, but it can also describe staged actions or careful planning.
- What is the difference between choreograph and arrange?
- Arrange is general. Choreograph suggests planned movement, style, and timing.
- Is choreograph a formal word?
- Yes, it is fairly formal and often used in artistic, performance, or professional contexts.