Standard Lemma guide

choreograph

verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈkɒɹiəɡɹɑːf/
  • UK: /ˈkɒɹiəɡɹæf/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: /ˈkɔɹjəɡɹæf/
  • CMU ARPABET: K AO1 R IY0 AH0 G R AE2 F Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To design and record the choreography for a dramatic work such as a ballet.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To direct the development of a project; to orchestrate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To work as a choreographer.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

plan and oversee the development and details of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The meeting between the two Presidents had been carefully choreographed

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: mastermind, engineer, direct, organize, organise, orchestrate

5

verb

Meaning 5

compose a sequence of dance steps, often to music

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Balanchine choreographed many pieces to Stravinsky's music

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: make, create

History

Etymology

Back-formation from choreography, equivalent to choreo- + -graph.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: coreografiar — to design and record a choreography
  • Chinese Mandarin: 编舞 (biānwǔ) — to design and record a choreography
  • Danish: koreografere — to design and record a choreography
  • Finnish: suunnitella koreografia — to design and record a choreography
  • Greek: χορογραφώ (chorografó) — to design and record a choreography
  • Hungarian: koreografál — to design and record a choreography
  • Portuguese: coreografar — to design and record a choreography
  • Spanish: coreografiar — to design and record a choreography
  • Swedish: koreografera — to design and record a choreography
  • Finnish: johtaa projektia — to direct the development of a project
  • Greek: χορογραφώ (chorografó) — to direct the development of a project
  • Portuguese: dirigir — to direct the development of a project
  • Portuguese: gerenciar — to direct the development of a project
  • Portuguese: gerir — to direct the development of a project
  • Portuguese: protagonizar — to direct the development of a project