backstory
noun
back·story
ˈbak-ˌstȯr-ē 
: a story that tells what led up to the main story or plot (as of a film)
Examples of backstory in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Character actor Muse Watson brought pathos to the role, revealing a gruesome backstory involving the accidental death of his daughter.
—
EW.com, 20 July 2025
Our introduction to Malaysia would begin with the backstory—way, way back.
—Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 16 July 2025
But just to use an example, Force Awakens sets up Snoke as the big villain of the new trilogy, with a mysterious backstory.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 12 July 2025
Epic and classic in tone, the film meshes a fantasy backstory, screwball relationships, and contemporary disaster-movie spectacle for a film that feels like a bright-eyed antidote to the dourest and dirtiest ’70s films.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 11 July 2025
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EW.com, 20 July 2025
Our introduction to Malaysia would begin with the backstory—way, way back.
—Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 16 July 2025
But just to use an example, Force Awakens sets up Snoke as the big villain of the new trilogy, with a mysterious backstory.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 12 July 2025
Epic and classic in tone, the film meshes a fantasy backstory, screwball relationships, and contemporary disaster-movie spectacle for a film that feels like a bright-eyed antidote to the dourest and dirtiest ’70s films.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for backstory
Cite this Entry
“Backstory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backstory. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
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