soliloquy

[ suh-lil-uh-kwee ]

noun

, plural so·lil·o·quies.

1. an utterance or discourse spoken to oneself, without regard for whether any other hearers are present (often used as a device in drama to disclose a character's innermost thoughts):

   Hamlet's soliloquy begins with “To be or not to be.”

2. the act of talking while or as if alone.

soliloquy

/ səˈlɪləkwɪ /

noun

1. the act of speaking alone or to oneself, esp as a theatrical device
2. a speech in a play that is spoken in soliloquy

   Hamlet's first soliloquy

Usage

Soliloquy is sometimes wrongly used where monologue is meant. Both words refer to a long speech by one person, but a monologue can be addressed to other people, whereas in a soliloquy the speaker is always talking to himself or herself

Word History and Origins

Origin of soliloquy¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Late Latin sōliloquium “a talking to oneself, soliloquy,” equivalent to sōli- soli- ¹ + loqu(ī) “to speak” + -ium -ium; -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of soliloquy¹

C17: via Late Latin sōliloquium, from Latin sōlus sole + loquī to speak

Example Sentences

The reason for repeatedly doing so isn’t ever made clear and feels as jarring as suddenly cutting away from a fight scene or a soliloquy.

From Los Angeles Times

“God save the most judgmental creeps who say they want what’s best for me,” she sings, “Sanctimoniously performing soliloquies I’ll never see.”

From Los Angeles Times

The thunderous rhetoric, which crowds out introspective soliloquy, moves into Broadway power ballad territory when emotions run high.

From Los Angeles Times

At one point I was watching Driver deliver the entire “to be or not to be” soliloquy from “Hamlet,” a reference never acknowledged by any of the other characters.

From Los Angeles Times

At the end of this soliloquy, the opening credits roll — accompanied by Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls.”

From New York Times

Related Words

• discourse
• monologue

More About Soliloquy

What does soliloquy mean?

A soliloquy is a speech spoken to no one but oneself, even if other people are around. The word is most often used to describe such a speech in a play.

In a play, a soliloquy is performed alone, regardless of whether there are other actors present on the stage. Soliloquies are typically used to let the audience hear a character’s inner thoughts. In terms of theater, a soliloquy is different from a monologue, which is also a long speech, but is part of a conversation with someone else.

Example: The most famous soliloquy in theater is perhaps the one from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, which begins “To be, or not to be, that is the question.”

Where does soliloquy come from?

Soliloquy comes from the Late Latin word sōliloquium, which has the same meaning (“a talking to oneself”). This is formed from the Latin sōli-, meaning “sole” or “alone” (as in solitary), and loqu(ī), meaning “to speak” (as in loquacious). The suffix -y is used to form abstract nouns, like inquiry. The first records of soliloquy come from around 1600.

In theater, there are no voice-overs to let the audience know what a character is thinking. Enter the soliloquy, which allows a character to express their inner thoughts through a speech, especially a lengthy one. The soliloquy was a commonly used device in the days of playwrights like Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare, and its popularly continued for centuries. Twentieth-century playwrights like Arthur Miller still used soliloquies, but you’re probably less likely to see one in a modern production (perhaps because a character just standing there and talking to no one doesn’t seem all that realistic).

In everyday use, soliloquy is sometimes used as a synonym for monologue, but in the context of theater, they are technically different: a monologue is a long speech made by someone during a conversation with someone else, while a soliloquy is a speech by character that is not addressed to anyone. Both are different from an aside, in which a character addresses the audience.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to soliloquy?

• hvnb

What are some words that share a root or word element with soliloquy? 

• loquacious
• solitary
• solo

What are some words that often get used in discussing soliloquy?

 

• speech
• play 
• theater 
• drama
• script
• interior monologue

What are some words soliloquy may be commonly confused with?

• monologue
• aside

How is soliloquy used in real life?

Soliloquy is most often used in the context of theater, but it is sometimes used to refer to real-life solo speeches. Sometimes people use it to mean just about the same thing as monologue.

Satan's soliloquy as he re-contemplates his rebellion against God in heaven in John Milton's "Paradise Lost". Beautifully written. pic.twitter.com/Ru1t1nOeuw

— René (@rixi_v) February 27, 2020

Struggling in a dark cold abyss. Profound reasoning nor my wits doesn't stand a chance. In afar a spark started, that now became a flame. Flame that lit up the path and gave me warmth. Doing soliloquy "I am saved".

— Ezekiel (@Zekieeeel) February 22, 2020

These long syrupy soliloquies on Facebook about people's spouses and children make me crinkle my nose and shake my head.

Maybe I'm wrong, but telling her how I feel privately seems almost sacred. It's our time. That's what makes it so special.

I don't know. What do you think?

— Craytus Jones (@craytusjones) February 23, 2020

 

 

Try using soliloquy!

In technical terms, how is a soliloquy different from a monologue?

A. It is performed to the audience.
B. The character is talking only to themself.
C. Other actors are present onstage.
D. It tells what the character is thinking.