Cliffhanger
noun
A situation in a story or show that is exciting because you are left wondering what will happen next.
The season finale of the TV show ended on a cliffhanger, making fans eager for the next season.
Often appears as...
- end on a cliffhanger
- leave on a cliffhanger
Usage tips
Literary
noun
A result or outcome that is uncertain and will be decided in the future.
The election turned into a cliffhanger with the candidates neck and neck.
Often appears as...
- election cliffhanger
- game cliffhanger
noun
A contestant or competitor who is in a perilous position in a competition or match.
With only minutes left in the game, their team was a cliffhanger.
Often appears as...
- sports cliffhanger
- competitive cliffhanger
Usage tips
Colloquial
noun
A situation in a story or show that is exciting because you are left wondering what will happen next.
The season finale of the TV show ended on a cliffhanger, making fans eager for the next season.
Often appears as...
- end on a cliffhanger
- leave on a cliffhanger
Usage tips
Literary
noun
A result or outcome that is uncertain and will be decided in the future.
The election turned into a cliffhanger with the candidates neck and neck.
Often appears as...
- election cliffhanger
- game cliffhanger
noun
A contestant or competitor who is in a perilous position in a competition or match.
With only minutes left in the game, their team was a cliffhanger.
Often appears as...
- sports cliffhanger
- competitive cliffhanger
Usage tips
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Narrative Suspense
Often used to describe a scene that leaves readers or viewers eager to know more.
The book's cliffhanger made me rush to get the sequel.
Pro Tip 2/3Series Strategy
TV and book series use cliffhangers to keep the audience interested until the next episode or installment.
Last night's episode ended with a cliffhanger, ensuring I'll be tuning in next week.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Impact
Cliffhangers can create a range of emotions, such as excitement, anxiety, or frustration.
The cliffhanger left me on the edge of my seat, desperate for answers.
Pro Tip 1/3Narrative Suspense
Often used to describe a scene that leaves readers or viewers eager to know more.
The book's cliffhanger made me rush to get the sequel.
Pro Tip 2/3Series Strategy
TV and book series use cliffhangers to keep the audience interested until the next episode or installment.
Last night's episode ended with a cliffhanger, ensuring I'll be tuning in next week.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Impact
Cliffhangers can create a range of emotions, such as excitement, anxiety, or frustration.
The cliffhanger left me on the edge of my seat, desperate for answers.
Pro Tip 1/3Narrative Suspense
Often used to describe a scene that leaves readers or viewers eager to know more.
The book's cliffhanger made me rush to get the sequel.
Pro Tip 2/3Series Strategy
TV and book series use cliffhangers to keep the audience interested until the next episode or installment.
Last night's episode ended with a cliffhanger, ensuring I'll be tuning in next week.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Impact
Cliffhangers can create a range of emotions, such as excitement, anxiety, or frustration.
The cliffhanger left me on the edge of my seat, desperate for answers.
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Video examples
Safari Live - Day 182 PIPE...
know about what I said earlier got to do with what water on today I was wondering when someone was going to come back with that I put that little bit of a cliffhanger there didn't I well essentially white rhino dung is made up of only grass there's no medicinal value
Video examples
How to make your writing...
the title character is unaware that he has killed his own father and married his mother. But the audience knows, and watching Oedipus gradually learn the truth provides the story with its agonizing climax. And finally, the cliffhanger. Beware of overusing this one.
Video examples
4 larger-than-life...
and I was back from the dead. We will all experience what looks like an ending, and we can choose to make it a beginning. Kind of like Tina, who miraculously survived that waterfall, and because I hate to leave a cliffhanger hanging, Tina and Cord did get divorced,
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 182 PIPE...
know about what I said earlier got to do with what water on today I was wondering when someone was going to come back with that I put that little bit of a cliffhanger there didn't I well essentially white rhino dung is made up of only grass there's no medicinal value
Video examples
How to make your writing...
the title character is unaware that he has killed his own father and married his mother. But the audience knows, and watching Oedipus gradually learn the truth provides the story with its agonizing climax. And finally, the cliffhanger. Beware of overusing this one.
Video examples
4 larger-than-life...
and I was back from the dead. We will all experience what looks like an ending, and we can choose to make it a beginning. Kind of like Tina, who miraculously survived that waterfall, and because I hate to leave a cliffhanger hanging, Tina and Cord did get divorced,
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Charles Soule
American Author
The first comic I can remember ever reading was a 'Fantastic Four' issue that my dad bought out of the drugstore once. The thing that struck me about it was that the ending wasn't an ending. It was essentially a cliffhanger. It was the first time I had ever read anything like that, where you read a book, but the book isn't the book.
Quote examples
Richelle Mead
American Author
The nice thing about a series is you can end on cliffhangers all the time. You can be like, 'You know what? Here we go, this person just died, end of book.' And with the end of the series, you're very conscious of all the plotlines that were left hanging. There's a balance there to wrap those up but still leave it exciting.
Quote examples
Jorge Garcia
American Actor
JJ Abrams is definitely a guy that when he calls, you want to answer. He's incredibly focused. When he was shooting the pilot on 'Lost,' we'd do a take and he'd go back to his tent and be working on the first episodes of 'Lost' as well as the cliffhanger for the eighth season of 'Alias.' He's an incredible multitasker.
Quote examples
Kresley Cole
American Novelist
I enjoy a good cliffhanger. As a reader, I relish that nervous feeling you get when you're engrossed in a story, but in the back of your mind you're aware that there aren't that many pages left. How will it end? Everything can't be wrapped up! This can't end! Then it does, and your heart seems to stop.
Quote examples
Candice Accola
American Actress
I love a good cliffhanger. I love when big events happen in shows. I love shows that aren't afraid to take risks and to really do what's best for the story line and realistic for the story line.
Quote examples
Richard C. Armitage
British Actor
People like continuity, and the good old cliffhanger every week is something they enjoy. I enjoy it - I don't want to dip into just one episode when I turn on the TV.
Quote examples
Alex Hirsch
American Writer
Cliffhangers are a lot of fun, but I think they can be easily abused if you're not careful.
Quote examples
Mireille Enos
American Actress
I personally love a cliffhanger - I think it just extends the pleasure of viewing.
Quote examples
Kevin J. Anderson
American Writer
Each book will have a lot of cliffhangers, because I like that.
Quote examples
Chris Chibnall
English Writer
I love a 'Doctor Who' cliffhanger.
Quote examples
Charles Soule
American Author
The first comic I can remember ever reading was a 'Fantastic Four' issue that my dad bought out of the drugstore once. The thing that struck me about it was that the ending wasn't an ending. It was essentially a cliffhanger. It was the first time I had ever read anything like that, where you read a book, but the book isn't the book.
Quote examples
Richelle Mead
American Author
The nice thing about a series is you can end on cliffhangers all the time. You can be like, 'You know what? Here we go, this person just died, end of book.' And with the end of the series, you're very conscious of all the plotlines that were left hanging. There's a balance there to wrap those up but still leave it exciting.
Quote examples
Jorge Garcia
American Actor
JJ Abrams is definitely a guy that when he calls, you want to answer. He's incredibly focused. When he was shooting the pilot on 'Lost,' we'd do a take and he'd go back to his tent and be working on the first episodes of 'Lost' as well as the cliffhanger for the eighth season of 'Alias.' He's an incredible multitasker.
Quote examples
Kresley Cole
American Novelist
I enjoy a good cliffhanger. As a reader, I relish that nervous feeling you get when you're engrossed in a story, but in the back of your mind you're aware that there aren't that many pages left. How will it end? Everything can't be wrapped up! This can't end! Then it does, and your heart seems to stop.
Quote examples
Candice Accola
American Actress
I love a good cliffhanger. I love when big events happen in shows. I love shows that aren't afraid to take risks and to really do what's best for the story line and realistic for the story line.
Quote examples
Richard C. Armitage
British Actor
People like continuity, and the good old cliffhanger every week is something they enjoy. I enjoy it - I don't want to dip into just one episode when I turn on the TV.
Quote examples
Alex Hirsch
American Writer
Cliffhangers are a lot of fun, but I think they can be easily abused if you're not careful.
Quote examples
Mireille Enos
American Actress
I personally love a cliffhanger - I think it just extends the pleasure of viewing.
Quote examples
Kevin J. Anderson
American Writer
Each book will have a lot of cliffhangers, because I like that.
Quote examples
Chris Chibnall
English Writer
I love a 'Doctor Who' cliffhanger.
Example 1 of 10
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