Everyday · Books & writing · Art & music
Cliffhanger: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Cliffhanger noun. A dramatic ending to an episode or chapter that leaves the outcome unresolved and the audience eager for more.
How to say it
KLIFF-hang-uh/ˈklɪfhaŋə/
3 syllables, stressed on the first (KLIFF). Forms: cliffhangers.
Cliffhanger in a sentence
The series ended on such a cliffhanger that fans waited two years to learn who survived.
Every chapter of the thriller closes with a cliffhanger, so bedtime keeps slipping past one o'clock.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- suspense
- teaser
- hook
Where cliffhanger comes from
From early film serials whose episodes often ended with the hero literally hanging from a cliff.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
Every chapter of the thriller closes with a _____, so bedtime keeps slipping past one o'clock.
- anthology
- manuscript
- cliffhanger
Show the answer
cliffhanger: Every chapter of the thriller closes with a cliffhanger, so bedtime keeps slipping past one o'clock.