a contest whose outcome is uncertain up to the very end.

an episode of a drama that ends in suspense.

Turning point in a story that propels the audience to continue watching to find out what happens next. In TV, the suspenseful beat at the end of an act that keeps the viewer tuned in through the station break.

a completed action with exciting coming attractions

a moment of suspense usually placed at the end of a chapter or section of a book to encourage the reader to continue on to the next chapter

an abrupt ending at an exciting and often dangerous time in the plot

Moment of high drama, frequently used at the end of serials.

A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in which a movie, novel, or other work of fiction contains an abrupt ending, often leaving the main characters in a precarious or difficult situation. This type of ending is used to ensure that, if a next installment is made, audiences will return to find out how the cliffhanger is resolved. The phrase comes from the classical end-of-episode situation in silent film days, with the protagonist left hanging from the edge of a cliff.