storyline
noun
sto·ry·line
ˈstȯr-ē-ˌlīn 
variants
or less commonly story line
plural storylines also story lines
1
: a plotline of a story, drama, or game
HBO's Insecure has been an exquisite platform of compelling, nuanced, mature storylines for Black TV comedy during its run.—
Matthew Allen
Matthew AllenPointless, menial objectives in a game distract from the main storyline and dilute the impact of more fun, engrossing missions.—Teddy Amenabar
Teddy AmenabarThe two story lines, each with its own compelling view of love, coalesce in a dramatic and surprising ending.—Martha Toll
Martha Toll
also
: story sense 1a
I've long wondered how the brain fits such unexpected sounds so smoothly and adroitly into dreams. The suggestion that the brain always brings phenomena to awareness a split second after they actually occur—in order to construct a plausible storyline for their appearance—offers a possible answer. —Robert Levy
Robert Levy 2
: a matter of particular importance, concern, or interest to an audience
—used especially in sports
The main storyline for the Timberwolves is the addition of three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert.—Tyler Schmidt
Tyler SchmidtThe fact Ovechkin has brought the impossible record within reach changes the way you watch the game. … Because Gretzky's goal total is the ultimate individual record in the sport, the chase trumps every other storyline surrounding this team from now until Ovechkin gets there.—J. J. Regan
J. J. Regan
often
: one that is evolving or developing
The offensive line is a major storyline to watch throughout training camp and the preseason, especially considering there's a new quarterback under center for the fifth consecutive season. —Kevin Hickey
Kevin Hickey 
Examples of storyline in a Sentence
the story line is clumsily interrupted several times to provide some much-needed background information
Recent Examples on the Web
Myths in American culture A myth is a storyline fueled by memory and imagination that represents an oversimplification of events, people and relationships.
—Timothy J. Brown, The Conversation, 10 Jan. 2025
Unlike an unnerving number of executives and showrunners who are uninterested (or simply unable) in adapting network formats for a streaming model, the team here actually understands how television should be paced, satisfying the needs of an episodic weekly series while juggling ongoing storylines.
—Nina Metz, Twin Cities, 10 Jan. 2025
This watershed moment demonstrated how brands can take a seat at the table in crafting storylines that align with their identity and values.
—Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Tucker’s platform season will be a major storyline around a Cubs team that will be under pressure to go beyond 83 wins and make the playoffs.
—Patrick Mooney, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
But their camaraderie takes a hit when Dee starts lusting after Gregory (Tyler James Williams), Janine’s fellow teacher—and, after a lengthy will-they-won’t-they storyline, also her boyfriend.
—Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 9 Jan. 2025
Again and again, his characters interrupt otherwise interesting storylines to emphasize that society couldn’t possibly function with less oil and gas (despite mountains of evidence to the contrary).
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
These are the storylines to keep in mind when the numbers come in and the earnings call chatter unfurls.
—Melvin Backman, Quartz, 8 Jan. 2025
Here are a few storylines to watch in local media for 2025:
Programming ups and downs
Unfortunately, the year already claimed its first local news program.
—Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 7 Jan. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Timothy J. Brown, The Conversation, 10 Jan. 2025
Unlike an unnerving number of executives and showrunners who are uninterested (or simply unable) in adapting network formats for a streaming model, the team here actually understands how television should be paced, satisfying the needs of an episodic weekly series while juggling ongoing storylines.
—Nina Metz, Twin Cities, 10 Jan. 2025
This watershed moment demonstrated how brands can take a seat at the table in crafting storylines that align with their identity and values.
—Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Tucker’s platform season will be a major storyline around a Cubs team that will be under pressure to go beyond 83 wins and make the playoffs.
—Patrick Mooney, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
But their camaraderie takes a hit when Dee starts lusting after Gregory (Tyler James Williams), Janine’s fellow teacher—and, after a lengthy will-they-won’t-they storyline, also her boyfriend.
—Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 9 Jan. 2025
Again and again, his characters interrupt otherwise interesting storylines to emphasize that society couldn’t possibly function with less oil and gas (despite mountains of evidence to the contrary).
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
These are the storylines to keep in mind when the numbers come in and the earnings call chatter unfurls.
—Melvin Backman, Quartz, 8 Jan. 2025
Here are a few storylines to watch in local media for 2025:
Programming ups and downs
Unfortunately, the year already claimed its first local news program.
—Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 7 Jan. 2025
Dictionary Entries Near storyline
Cite this Entry
“Storyline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/storyline. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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