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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

Not so with Carano, a rising action star before she landed the plum role of former Rebel trooper Cara Dune in "The Mandalorian."

From Salon • Dec. 31, 2021

With the introduction of finger spelling, this paragraph and the next present the rising action building toward the climax of this story.

From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021

The payoff here, the surprise appearance of Robert De Niro as Robert Mueller, is no substitute for a rising action, not least because De Niro’s performance isn’t exactly worthy of Taxi Driver.

From Slate • Nov. 11, 2018

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