A cliffhanger is a situation or part of a play or film that is very exciting or frightening because you are left for a long time not knowing what will happen next.
The election is likely to be a cliff-hanger.
...cliffhanger endings to keep you in suspense.
cliffhanger in British English
(ˈklɪfˌhæŋə)
noun
1.
a.
a situation of imminent disaster usually occurring at the end of each episode of a serialized film
b.
the serialized film itself
2.
a situation that is dramatic or uncertain
Derived forms
cliffhanging (ˈcliffˌhanging)
adjective
cliffhanger in American English
(ˈklɪfˌhæŋər), ˈcliff-ˌhanger (ˈklɪfˌhæŋər)
US
noun
1.
an early type of serialized film in which each episode ended with a suspenseful climax, as the hero hanging from a cliff
2.
any highly suspenseful story, situation, etc.
Derived forms
cliffhanging (ˈcliffˌhanging)
adjective or ˈcliff-ˌhanging
Examples of 'cliffhanger' in a sentence
cliffhanger
America is set for a real cliffhanger.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Or will the series end on a cliffhanger?
The Sun (2015)
Each episode ends on a cliffhanger which means you have to keep right on going.
The Sun (2012)
The text ends with a cliffhanger.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
That book ended on a cliffhanger.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The 1969 film ends with a real cliffhanger.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Incredibly, the series ends on a cliffhanger.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The following dramatic cliffhanger essentially decided last year's match.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
As the young lovers sailed off into wedded bliss, the first series ended with a cliffhanger for the supporting duo.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The filmmakers, though, decided to leave us with a real cliffhanger.
The Sun (2006)
And yes, the Americans have cliffhanger endings down to a fine art.
The Sun (2015)
Worryingly, this final episode ends on a cliffhanger, which implies that there is another series to come.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Last week 's cliffhanger was so tense I thought that my tiny brain would pop.