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 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 The writer has racked up 960K followers on Instagram for cracking them up with satirical captions imagining the inner monologue of young Prince George, son of Prince William and Duchess Kate Middleton. Kaitlin Stevens, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024 Indeed, two of the three veterans who wrote jokes for the Golden Globes monologue declined to comment for this article, and a third didn’t respond to a request. Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2024 The film’s disappointing performance even earned a shoutout from star Sydney Sweeney, who used her Saturday Night Live monologue to poke fun at the box office flop. Shania Russell, EW.com, 3 Mar. 2024 The performers are putting on an improv show, complete with a cover charge, refreshments and an introductory monologue. Marisa Iati, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 Romantic music plays as Longfellow tries to work up the courage to ask Sweeney out in an internal monologue the viewer hears. Lisa Respers France, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024 It has often been said of Curb that David represents the inner monologue of the audience, articulating the minor petty grievances that go unsaid in polite society. Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2024 But last weekend, during his opening monologue as the host of Saturday Night Live, Gillis looked simply anxious. Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 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 19 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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