monologue
Americannoun
-
a form of dramatic entertainment, comedic solo, or the like by a single speaker.
a comedian's monologue.
-
a prolonged talk or discourse by a single speaker, especially one dominating or monopolizing a conversation.
-
any composition, as a poem, in which a single person speaks alone.
-
a part of a drama in which a single actor speaks alone; soliloquy.
noun
-
a long speech made by one actor in a play, film, etc, esp when alone
-
a dramatic piece for a single performer
-
any long speech by one person, esp when interfering with conversation
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of monologue
1615–25; < French, on the model of dialogue dialogue; compare Greek monólogos speaking alone
Explanation
A monologue is a speech delivered by one person, or a long one-sided conversation that makes you want to pull your hair out from boredom. The Greek root word monologos translates to “speaking alone,” and that’s a monologue: one person doing all the talking. In theatre, sometimes a character has a monologue that they perform. You might have an internal monologue where you talk to yourself to better understand some dilemma. Some people talk forever in a constant monologue, never letting you speak. If two people talk back and forth, it’s a dialogue, which is different and probably more fun for everyone.
Vocabulary lists containing monologue
"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from all 4 Acts
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from Act 3
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Reading: Literature - Drama - Introductory
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We would be remiss in not mentioning the monologue that arguably led us to this moment.
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026
Like its US counterpart, the UK show has a cold open - beginning immediately with a sketch before going to a title sequence, opening credits and then an opening monologue from the guest host.
From BBC • May 17, 2026
Ferrell tried to do a hard reset of the monologue but couldn’t get the vibe back.
From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026
In “Deadwood,” the finest monologue, Mr. Jackman plays a tree surgeon who begins a relationship with one of his clients, Katie.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026
The monologue sets the arc of the story.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
