cliffhanger

or cliff-hang·er

[ klif-hang-er ]

noun

1. a melodramatic or adventure serial in which each installment ends in suspense in order to interest the reader or viewer in the next installment.
2. a single installment in such a serial.
3. a suspenseful movie, novel, etc.
4. the suspenseful ending itself.
5. a situation or contest of which the outcome is suspensefully uncertain up to the very last moment:

   The game was a cliffhanger, but our team finally won.

cliffhanger

/ ˈklɪfˌhæŋə /

noun

1. 1. a situation of imminent disaster usually occurring at the end of each episode of a serialized film
   2. the serialized film itself
2. a situation that is dramatic or uncertain

Derived Forms

• ˈcliffˌhanging, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cliffhanger¹

An Americanism dating back to 1935–40

Example Sentences

Its Waitrose supermarkets has a whodunit two-parter which leaves audiences on a cliffhanger, starring Succession's Matthew Macfadyen as a detective on the hunt to uncover who has stolen the family's red velvet cake.

From BBC

The message also thanked fans for their enduring "love and enthusiasm," with Covell confirming that one unspecified online fan theory over the series' cliffhanger ending was "bang on the money."

From BBC

Streaming service show cancellations are not uncommon and have regularly frustrated subscribers, such as Netflix ending The OA in 2019, and Shadow and Bone in 2023 - after cliffhanger season finales.

From BBC

Cliffhanger endings are a defining trait of streaming series, so this is not the worst sin, especially since the prevailing feeling of “How to Die Alone” is of wanting more.

From Salon

Trump’s “brand” as a political figure-entertainer-character is surprise, predictable unpredictability, and the cliffhanger.

From Salon

Related Words

• close call
• shocker