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

Despite tallying just one win since 2016, McGregor has remained the promotion’s most popular star, and his regularly teased returns have captivated the sport’s storylines. —Mark Puleo, New York Times, 17 May 2026

Fatal Influence and the Cargill trio have been two parallel SmackDown storylines feeding the same talent pool since Jacy Jayne's main roster call-up sparked the Ripley feud, and this six-woman tag pulls both threads onto the same card. —Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026

This whole storyline ended up being cut from my book. —Torie Bosch, STAT, 16 May 2026

The second-to-last episode of the quirky crime drama focused on the Miss Twin Peaks pageant, bringing the characters back from their splintered storylines to a central event. —Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026

Related Stories By the way, Kripke and his staff wrote that storyline two years ago. —Michael Schneider, Variety, 15 May 2026

There are plenty of engaging storylines to dive into this summer that won't include the Bayou Bengals and their carnival barker of a head coach even in the slightest. —Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026

Adding another strand to the storyline is that Bolton serves as a Sarabande ambassador. —Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 14 May 2026

Farnaby’s final screenplay boldly sets the adaptation in modern Britain, with a storyline tapping into contemporary concerns about screentime and the impact of social media on young minds. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 14 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for storyline

• alkaline
• andesine
• anodyne
• anticline
• arginine
• asinine
• benzidine
• borderline
• byzantine
• calamine
• caroline
• centerline