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Synonyms

rising action

American  
[rahy-zing ak-shuhn] / ˈraɪ zɪŋ ˈæk ʃən /

noun

  1. a related series of incidents in a literary plot that build toward the point of greatest interest.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It’s just the preceding rising action that feels a bit underwhelming.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 19, 2024

His recent work delved into the “narrative identities” patients formed around the illness—that is, the way they view the arc of their life, the stuff that counts as important exposition, rising action, climax, and resolution.

From Slate • Jun. 5, 2022

Introduced in the exposition and developed in the rising action, this incident sets the mood of the story and engages readers.

From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021

He meticulously plans his sets — each one has a beginning, establishing action, rising action, climax, falling action and ending, as he instructed his MasterClass — but knows how to read the room.

From New York Times • Oct. 12, 2021

At the close of this scene Cassius lays his plans to win Brutus over to the conspiracy, and the complication, or rising action, of the drama begins.

From The New Hudson Shakespeare: Julius Cæsar by Black, Ebenezer Charlton

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