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

Pointless, menial objectives in a game distract from the main storyline and dilute the impact of more fun, engrossing missions.

—Teddy Amenabar

The two story lines, each with its own compelling view of love, coalesce in a dramatic and surprising ending.

—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

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

The 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

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

Synonyms

• action
• plot
• story

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

That’s exactly what happened on last week’s SmackDown, when both Punk and Paul Heyman returned in an epic show-closing segment that added so many more layers to The Bloodline storyline in just a matter of minutes. —Blake Oestriecher, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024

McMahon was infamous for his late-night calls, often filled with sudden, unpredictable ideas that would dramatically alter the course of storylines. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2024

Though there is no official confirmation yet on how closely the storyline of the second film will align with the show’s second act, Chu spoke to The Hollywood Reporter ahead of the film’s release to share insight on his vision. —Nicole Fell, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Nov. 2024

The audience was definitely game and — without the pressure of a storyline and narrative to contend with — the group was just able to rock through a number of the most memorable works of its nearly 30-year career. —Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 27 Nov. 2024

While Jets fans may be used to such dire straits as the NFL regular season enters its final full month, the implosion of both New York franchises makes for one of the league’s most cringeworthy storylines this year. —Kyle Feldscher, CNN, 27 Nov. 2024

However, there were numerous Jets storylines, including Zach Wilson’s struggles and whether the team should move on from him, while the focus on Rodgers’ recovery and potential quick return was reported on constantly. —Scott Thompson, Fox News, 27 Nov. 2024

When the Baltimore Ravens met as a team in preparation for Monday night’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers, coach John Harbaugh wanted to get ahead of the most prominent storyline of the week. —Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic, 25 Nov. 2024

The Bravo reality series will return in early 2025, and a major storyline revolves around returning star Porsha Williams. —Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 23 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined at sense 1