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 of storyline

• story
• plot
• action

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

Here’s a look at five of the most compelling storylines of Week 15. —Mike Jones, New York Times, 14 Dec. 2025

The year’s main storylines included the rise of AI slop and cartoon K-pop. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025

One of the big storylines coming into the game was the return of veteran receiver Mike Evans, who had been sidelined since Week 4 with a collarbone injury. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 12 Dec. 2025

This is a moment where Mercury’s retrograde storyline comes full circle… and for one zodiac sign in particular (Sagittarius), the truth becomes impossible to ignore. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025

And while a few sitcoms like Sex and the City have celebrated the importance of friendship for decades, there seems to be a growing appetite for storylines that take platonic love seriously—evident in the new wave of shows like Dying for Sex, Platonic, and Overcompensating. —Jenna Ryu, SELF, 11 Dec. 2025

Its recent credits include Dear Viet, about a man who was born conjoined to his twin brother Viet in 1981 as a result of the use of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, which also chimes with the storyline of Reggane. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2025

This storyline bothered Wilson, who in 2024 earned her third WNBA MVP award and her second Olympic gold medal in Paris, where she was named tournament MVP. —Sean Gregory, Time, 10 Dec. 2025

Characters on stage would struggle under the weight of scene-setting, or narration, storylines would stutter, feel clumsy or pleading. —Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 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