monologue
noun
Did you know?
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
Bailey Trela, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
At points during his final pre-election end-of-episode monologue, Oliver seemed to be fighting back tears.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2024
The comedian’s monologue included jokes about being a new father, his relationship with actress and wife Olivia Munn, his 2020 stay in a rehab facility and the current state of his health at 42 years old.
—Carly Thomas, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Nov. 2024
That may well be Vice President Kamala Harris’ inner monologue.
—David Goldman, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for monologue 
Articles Related to monologue
Dictionary Entries Near monologue
Cite this Entry
“Monologue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monologue. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
monologue
noun
Share