noun
- the final, climactic part of a joke or humorous story that produces the laugh or surprise
Usage: commonly written as one word or hyphenated (punch-line)
Examples
- The comedian paused before delivering the punchline to build suspense.
- I didn't get the punchline until my friend explained the reference.
- The best part of the joke is the punchline—it catches you completely off guard.
- She ruined the punchline by laughing before she finished telling the joke.
- The punchline was so clever that the entire audience groaned and applauded at once.