soliloquy
Soliloquy (noun) means a speech in a play in which a character, alone on stage, speaks their thoughts aloud so the audience can hear them. Example: “Hamlet's 'To be, or not to be' is the most quoted soliloquy in English.”
How to use soliloquy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA character in a play thinking out loud on their own.
Formal and literary.
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Hamlet's 'To be, or not to be' is the most quoted _____ in English.
Etymology
From Late Latin 'soliloquium', from 'solus' meaning 'alone' and 'loqui' meaning 'to speak'.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for soliloquy
See all rhymes for soliloquy →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a soliloquy and a monologue?
A soliloquy is spoken by a character who is alone and unheard by the other characters, so it reveals private thoughts. A monologue is a long speech delivered to other people on stage. Every soliloquy is a kind of monologue, but not the reverse.
What is the difference between a soliloquy and an aside?
An aside is a brief remark to the audience, often only a line, delivered while other characters are present and supposedly cannot hear. A soliloquy is a sustained speech given in solitude.
How do you pronounce soliloquy?
Four syllables, with the stress on the second: suh-LIL-uh-kwee. The plural is soliloquies.
What is the meaning of soliloquy?
"soliloquy" (noun) means a speech in a play in which a character, alone on stage, speaks their thoughts aloud so the audience can hear them.