Soliloquy
noun /səˈlɪləkwi/ — The act of speaking one's thoughts aloud, especially when alone.
Definition
A dramatic form in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud to themselves — and by extension, any private extended expression of thought not addressed to an audience but to oneself.
Beyond the definition
The soliloquy is where the mask comes off. On stage, it's the moment we hear what is really going on inside. In life, it's what you say in the car, in the shower — the thoughts that can't be contained in silence.
Origin & history
From Medieval Latin 'soliloquium' — from 'solus' (alone) + 'loqui' (to speak). Made famous by Shakespeare's great theatrical monologues; 'To be or not to be' is the most famous soliloquy in the language.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Hamlet's soliloquies are how we know who he really is, beneath the performance.
Her morning walk had become a kind of soliloquy — the day's problems spoken aloud to the trees.
A diary is a written soliloquy — thought made visible.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Soliloquy” when the meaning fits your context: A dramatic form in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud to themselves — and by extension, any private extended expression of thought not addressed to an audience but to oneself.
Synonyms
monologue, internal speech, aside, meditation
Antonyms
dialogue, conversation
Related words
Word in the Wild
Illustrative story: an imagined scene, not a documented event or interview.
She was alone in the car, in traffic, and found herself speaking aloud to the empty passenger seat — working through, out loud, the argument she'd been having in her head for days.
She was not rehearsing. She wasn't even sure anyone was supposed to hear it. The words needed to exist in the air before she could assess them.
She arrived at work fifteen minutes later having resolved nothing — but having heard herself, which was something. The argument was still there. She was more prepared for it.
Questions about this word
What does "Soliloquy" mean?
Soliloquy is noun meaning: The act of speaking one's thoughts aloud, especially when alone.. A dramatic form in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud to themselves — and by extension, any private extended expression of thought not addressed to an audience but to oneself.
Where does the word "Soliloquy" come from?
From Medieval Latin 'soliloquium' — from 'solus' (alone) + 'loqui' (to speak). Made famous by Shakespeare's great theatrical monologues; 'To be or not to be' is the most famous soliloquy in the language.