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

Sustainability will be a through line, especially for consumers that want to flex their knowledge and passion for the topic. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 7 Jan. 2025

The through line from Influence to the raw performances these women have given in recent hits like The Power of the Dog, Blue Jasmine, and The Nest is clear. —Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024

There’s definitely a through line from record to record — themes are similar, the players are similar. —Nate Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024

The through line is the story of Tampopo (Nobuko Miyamoto), a ramen chef who wants to master the art of broth. —Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 21 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above