punch line
Where laughter arrives
The punch line is the final part of a joke that delivers the humor—the moment everything clicks and the laugh arrives.
The setup creates expectation; the punch line subverts or fulfills it unexpectedly.
Extended to any climactic or revelatory moment: The punch line of the story is that he was her father all along.
Also spelled punchline.
Humorous statement seeking laughter
- gagMouth restraint or jest
- one-linerBrief standalone joke
- zingerPointed witty remark
- quipBrief, clever remark
wisecrack · jest · pun · wordplay · banter · shtick · laugh · funny
Point of greatest intensity
- payoffCulminating benefit received
- culminationHighest or final point
- peakUtmost height attained
- kickerOne who boots balls
finale · crescendo · revelation · epiphany · landing · knockout · zinger · showstopper
Art of choosing moments
- setupHow something is arranged
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
- beatRhythmic pulse or strike
- deadpanExpressionless, especially for humor
comedic timing · buildup · anticipation · reveal · landing · execution · payoff · callback
Unexpected event causing astonishment
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- reversalComplete change of direction
- subversionUndermining established authority
- ironyMeaning opposite to words
curveball · misdirection · deflection · turnabout · gotcha · shock · swerve · anti-joke
joke
Humorous statement seeking laughter
quip · wisecrack · jest · pun · wordplay · banter · shtick · laugh · funny · comedy
climax
Point of greatest intensity
- payoffCulminating benefit received
- culminationHighest or final point
- peakUtmost height attained
kicker · finale · crescendo · revelation · epiphany · landing · knockout · zinger · showstopper · crowd-pleaser
timing
Art of choosing moments
deadpan · comedic timing · buildup · anticipation · reveal · landing · execution · payoff · callback · tag
surprise
Unexpected event causing astonishment
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- reversalComplete change of direction
- subversionUndermining established authority
irony · curveball · misdirection · deflection · turnabout · gotcha · shock · swerve · anti-joke · bait-and-switch
- comedy bitsbit, skit, sketch, gag, shtick
- editorial cartoonseditorial cartoon, political cartoon, political satire, caricature, cartoonist
- humorjoke, jokes, joking, comedy, comic
- comedy writingjoke, jokes, comedy, satire, parody
- jokesjokes, joke, puns, one-liners, pun
- media clipsaudio clip, sound clip, video clip, clip, snippet