the final resolution of the intricacies of a plot, as of a drama or novel.
the place in the plot at which this occurs.
the outcome or resolution of a doubtful series of occurrences.
the final clarification or resolution of a plot in a play or other work
the point at which this occurs
final outcome; solution
First recorded in 1745–55; from French: literally, “an untying,” equivalent to dénouer “to untie,” Old French desnoer ( des- + noer “to knot,” from Latin nōdāre, derivative of nōdus “knot”) + -ment; see de-, -ment
You know that part of every movie after the big action scene, where things get explained, and the characters tie up loose ends? That's called the denouement, or the showing of how the plot eventually turns out. Denouement is a French word that literally means the action of untying, from a verb meaning to untie. The English word is pronounced like the French: day-noo-MON. The last syllable has a nasalized vowel instead of the n sound. You can use it outside the context of plays or novels, too: you might describe the denouement of an argument between two friends.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Hundreds of intellectuals and others have signed letters and online petitions expressing fears of a disastrous denouement: the collection’s prolonged — and possible permanent — absence from Mexico.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
We now have a denouement at Celtic Park on Saturday, a straight shootout between leaders Hearts and chasers Celtic.
From BBC ● May 14, 2026
The novel’s satisfying denouement is assured when a disgraced former colleague of Ben’s, gloriously named Richard Take, accepts the proverbial dagger from Martin.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 13, 2026
Next week the league phase comes to a dramatic denouement with all 18 matches kicking off at the same time.
From Barron's ● Jan. 20, 2026
His chess innocence gone, he could now see the denouement perhaps twenty or more moves ahead.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
That brings us to the present, and the impending sour dénouement to the calamitous 28 points.
From Slate ● Nov. 24, 2025
The ascendancy of Ely’s argument reached its dénouement in the early 1990s.
From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2023
There's no way to judge or measure the probability of such a dreaded dénouement now.
From Salon ● Mar. 29, 2023
For example, the dénouement, while presenting a horrific situation, doesn’t fill the viewer with dread.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2021
I was explaining the dénouement when Cloke Rayburn abruptly shouldered through the crowd.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
Yet despite a number of similarities, including mistakes made and disastrous denouements that spelled defeat for the U.S., each conflict had entirely different impacts on U.S. society, culture and politics.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2022
Campy whodunnit Clue embraced the chaos: its 1985 cinema release randomly featured one of three different denouements to encourage repeat business.
From The Guardian ● Jan. 22, 2021
Imagine that none of the alarmist denouements materializes.
From Salon ● Nov. 9, 2020
He was a student of the Tom Wolfe school of writing and favored stories with deeper meaning and surprising denouements.
From Golf Digest ● Apr. 14, 2020
I assure you, Clotilde, that it is the most reasonable of denouements.
From Doctor Pascal by Serrano, Mary J. (Mary Jane)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
