WordGarden.iomonolog
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /mˈɒnəʊlˌɒɡ/
US
Meanings
Noun
a long speech by one person
a speech performed by a single actor or character
Verb
to speak at length without sharing the floor
Beyond the definition
Imagine a stage with just one actor in a spotlight, pouring out their heart. That is one of the clearest examples of a monolog (sometimes spelled monologue). It is not just any short remark. It is a longer stretch of speech by one person or character. Think of Hamlet's famous "To be or not to be" speech, where we hear his thoughts directly. But it does not have to be dramatic. It could be your friend retelling their whole weekend or a comedian doing a long bit on stage. The main idea is simple: one voice keeps speaking for a while.
These speeches are useful in storytelling because they let us understand a person's feelings, ideas, and reasons more clearly. They are common in plays, films, books, and everyday life.
A monolog (or monologue) is a longer speech given by one person or character. It often reveals thoughts, feelings, intentions, or important information to an audience or to another character. It is more than a simple comment. It is a sustained piece of speaking that takes up a noticeable part of a scene, conversation, or performance.
The word comes from the Greek monos ("alone") and logos ("speech"). Although people often connect it with theatre, it is not limited to the stage. A politician giving a long address, a witness speaking at length in court, or even a friend telling a detailed story can all be forms of a monolog.
There are different types of monologs:
- Dramatic Monolog: A speech that shows a character's inner thoughts and feelings.
- Monolog in Conversation: A long stretch of speech directed at other people, even if they say little or nothing back.
- Interior Monolog: A writing technique that presents a character's thoughts as they pass through the mind.
Monologs are important in literature, theatre, and film because they can build character, create tension, and give the audience key information. They also help show how a person thinks and feels in a direct way.
So, the next time you hear one person speaking at length, whether on stage, on screen, or in real life, you can think of it as a monolog: a single voice opening a window into a person's mind, story, or point of view.
Examples
- 1
Theater
In the opening scene, the actress delivers a monolog directly to the audience.
- 2
Long speech
What started as a simple explanation turned into a ten-minute monolog about his college years.
- 3
Literary thoughts
The novel reads like an inner monolog, with every fear and doubt left on the page.
- Phraseinner monolog
a character's private thoughts
See also
Similar
- monologue
- speech
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- dialogue
- conversation
Used with (collocations)
- deliver a monolog
- comic monolog
- dramatic monolog
Word family
- monologist
- monologic
Explore
- one-person performance
- stand-up comedy
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- monolognoun
Forms
- monologspluralnoun