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

These matches demonstrated the women's division's skill sets and storylines, contributing to the event's overall success. —Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025

Is there a particular episode or storyline this season that stands out to you as indicative of that growth in the character? —Max Gao, Variety, 12 May 2025

That doesn’t sound like a ticket seller but makes sense based on recent storyline happenings and Truth’s long-time obsession with Cena. —Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025

Although the show took a different approach to the superhero’s storyline, writers still paid tribute to earlier Superman icons like Christopher Reeve and Dean Cain. —Rachel Flynn, People.com, 11 May 2025

The finale — in which Jigsaw, Amanda, and just about everyone else meet their maker — gives the initial storyline a satisfying conclusion, sending future screenwriters reaching for increasingly inane ways to revive the central characters. —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 10 May 2025

It was felt by not only us, but everyone who was working on that storyline. —Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 8 May 2025

Boston’s offensive approach will be a top storyline as the Celtics look to even the second-round series in Game 2 on Wednesday. —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 6 May 2025

And you can get hooked into some of those storylines. —Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for storyline

• acridine
• alkaline
• andesine
• anodyne
• anticline
• arginine
• asinine
• atropine
• benzidine
• borderline
• byzantine
• calamine