through line

noun

variants or throughline

ˈthrü-ˌlīn 

or less commonly through-line

: a common or consistent element or theme shared by items in a series or by parts of a whole

But Kent's latest nonetheless reveals a fascinating through line in her work, which centers on, as she puts it, "disrespect for the feminine"—and the inciting power of female rage.

—Rachel Handler

Vang was born in a refugee camp in Thailand, and came to the United States in the late 1980s. For him and his family, food was the throughline keeping them connected to their culture, wherever they were.

—Sharyn Jackson

Perverse moments like these are a throughline in Decker's work. The Texas native specializes in "bad" desires—awkward wants that tend to go unexpressed, or which otherwise seem too compromising to confess even to oneself.

—K. Austin Collins

Unlike Tokyo's great shopping thoroughfares, which have a certain logical through-line (if not aesthetic, at least socioeconomic), Osaka's arcades are mismatched, high-low jumbles of retail diversions.

—Simon Dumenco

Examples of through line in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While each club has a distinct personality, the through lines remain the same, giving each one a familiar feeling while still being inspired by its location, such as London, New York, Barcelona or Los Angeles. —Rachel Fletcher, Architectural Digest, 2 Dec. 2024

Set aside time to take stock of your career trajectory thus far, pinpoint key examples or case studies that define you as a leader, and journal to extract themes and through lines that are the hallmarks of your leadership. —Cynthia Pong, Jd, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024

Because all that most people remember is Musk fumbling through lines while dressed as Wario. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024

The through line among La Pelle’s three single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons—Saint Helena Alluvium Vineyard, Coombsville La Ceniza Vineyard, and Oak Knoll District Red Hen Vineyard—is Koschitky’s hand in the winery. —Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 27 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above