soliloquy

[suh-lil-uh-kwee]

noun

plural

soliloquies 

1. an utterance or discourse spoken to oneself, without regard for whether any other hearers are present (often used as a device in drama to disclose a character's innermost thoughts).

   Hamlet's soliloquy begins with “To be or not to be.”

2. the act of talking while or as if alone.

soliloquy

/ səˈlɪləkwɪ /

noun

1. the act of speaking alone or to oneself, esp as a theatrical device

2. a speech in a play that is spoken in soliloquy

   Hamlet's first soliloquy

Usage

Soliloquy is sometimes wrongly used where monologue is meant. Both words refer to a long speech by one person, but a monologue can be addressed to other people, whereas in a soliloquy the speaker is always talking to himself or herself

Word History and Origins

Origin of soliloquy¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Late Latin sōliloquium “a talking to oneself, soliloquy,” equivalent to sōli- soli- ¹ + loqu(ī) “to speak” + -ium -ium; -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of soliloquy¹

C17: via Late Latin sōliloquium, from Latin sōlus sole + loquī to speak

Example Sentences

The story’s emotional climax, the crescendo of his bold answer to Shakespeare’s soliloquy, is drenched in golden hues to underscore a life or death choice.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Those epic soliloquies?” says someone who works closely with Sheridan, “That’s how he talks.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

True, the major soliloquies are not the tortured revelations of a soul in anguish but merely philosophical ruminations; it seems unlikely that this spirited man would opt for self-slaughter.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In a makeshift classroom, Mr White, the coach, launched into an extraordinary soliloquy.

Read more on BBC

In a voiceover soliloquy about relationships, she lands on the realization that the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• discourse 
• monologue 

When To Use

What does soliloquy mean?

A soliloquy is a speech spoken to no one but oneself, even if other people are around. The word is most often used to describe such a speech in a play.In a play, a soliloquy is performed alone, regardless of whether there are other actors present on the stage. Soliloquies are typically used to let the audience hear a character’s inner thoughts. In terms of theater, a soliloquy is different from a monologue, which is also a long speech, but is part of a conversation with someone else.Example: The most famous soliloquy in theater is perhaps the one from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, which begins “To be, or not to be, that is the question.”