monologue

/ˈmɒnəlɒɡ/
nounIntermediate
literary

a long speech by one person, especially in a play or performance

The monologue in the play revealed the character's inner turmoil.

The long speech by one actor showed the character's emotional struggle.

💡

Often used in theater, film, and literature to convey a character's thoughts or emotions.

informal

a conversation where one person talks at length without interruption

He gave a monologue about his trip to Europe for hours.

He talked nonstop about his European vacation for a long time.

💡

In everyday usage, it can describe someone talking excessively without engaging others.

Collocations

deliver a monologueto perform or give a monologuepowerful monologuea monologue that is emotionally impactful

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

soliloquyphrase
a speech by a character alone on stage, revealing thoughts

💡Pro Tip

Usage in Theater

Monologues are common in plays and films to develop characters and advance the plot.

Gold Rule

Avoid Misuse

A monologue is not a dialogue; ensure it involves only one speaker.

📖Word Origin

From French 'monologue', from Greek 'monologos' (mono- 'single' + logos 'speech').

📝Usage Notes

In theater, a monologue is often used to reveal a character's thoughts. In everyday language, it can describe someone talking at length without interaction.

Word Breakdown

mono-
single
prefix
+
-logue
speech
suffix
English Dictionary