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 In addition to being its own kind of ballad, Roya’s monologue is rife with reminiscences about Iranian music and singers. Lisa Kennedy, The Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2024 Michael Keaton hosted Saturday's episode and in his monologue was interrupted by Mikey Day and Andy Samberg doing their impressions of Beetlejuice. Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY, 21 Oct. 2024 Michael Keaton had some spooky characters join him during his Saturday Night Live monologue! Nicholas Rice, People.com, 20 Oct. 2024 On Jimmy Kimmel Live last night, the host used his monologue to respond to a recent interview the presidential candidate did on the Nelk Boys podcast. Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for monologue 

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 31 Oct. 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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