monologue

noun

mono·​logue ˈmä-nə-ˌlȯg How to pronounce monologue (audio)
-ˌläg
variants or less commonly monolog
1
a
: soliloquy sense 2
the monologue at the beginning of the scene
b
: a dramatic sketch performed by one actor
c
: the routine of a stand-up comic
The comedian's monologue about his family was hilarious.
2
: a literary composition written in the form of a soliloquy
Her poems were monologues about unrequited love.
3
: a long speech monopolizing conversation
I stifled a yawn as she continued her monologue about her vacation experiences.
monologuist noun
or monologist
ˈmä-nə-ˌlȯ-gist How to pronounce monologue (audio)
-ˌlä-,
mə-ˈnä-lə-jist,
-gist

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Soliloquy vs. Monologue

Soliloquy and monologue cover very similar ground, but there are some important differences between the two words. Soliloquy (from the Latin solus “alone” and loqui “to speak”) at its most basic level refers to the act of talking to oneself, and more specifically denotes the solo utterance of an actor in a drama. It tends to be used of formal or literary expressions, such as Hamlet’s soliloquies. Monologue (from Greek monos "alone" and legein "to speak") may also refer to a dramatic scene in which an actor soliloquizes, but it has other meanings as well. To a stand-up comedian, monologue denotes a comic routine. To a bored listener, it signifies a long speech uttered by someone who has too much to say.

Examples of monologue in a Sentence

The play begins with the main character's monologue. The comedian is famous for his monologue about winning the lottery. I stifled a yawn as she launched into a monologue about how she is going to become a famous star.
Recent Examples on the Web Frequent voiceovers let us into Diarra’s internal monologue. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2024 Nicole Kidman shares details of how viral AMC ad came to be Kidman’s monologue that plays before the theater chain’s movies has become a cultural sensation, with memes running rampant on social media. Alexandra Banner, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024 The video begins with black-and-white footage of a man in a dark suit delivering a monologue while a room full of people, Hawke included, gather around him. Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2024 On Monday night’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the singer/actor, 43, briefly took over hosting duties by hijacking the monologue in a hilarious bit. Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024 The popular stand-up performer, who’s known for his witty, quirky monologues about contemporary life and family dynamics, will be appearing on June 7 at the Clarkston, Michigan venue. Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 12 Mar. 2024 Interestingly, Stone and Gladstone were the two best actress nominees this year who didn’t have the kind of big, showy monologues that usually result in awards attention. Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 Taking a break from previously charming and approachable roles, Stone goes hard as a prickly woman on the verge of explosion, which finally arrives towards the end of the film when Sam berates her father in a memorable monologue. Shania Russell, EW.com, 10 Mar. 2024 Discovery chief David Zaslav during his opening monologue as host of the 71st Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Awards. Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'monologue.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French monologue, from mon- + -logue

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of monologue was in 1549

Dictionary Entries Near monologue

Cite this Entry

“Monologue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monologue. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

monologue

noun
mono·​logue
variants also monolog
1
: a short dramatic work performed by one actor
2
: a long uninterrupted speech delivered by one person in the presence of others
monologuist noun
or monologist
mə-ˈnäl-ə-jəst How to pronounce monologue (audio)
ˈmän-ᵊl-ˌȯg-əst,
-ˌäg-
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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