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

One of the more unexpected storylines in the early portion of the 2026 Major League Baseball season has been the complaints from opposing managers about Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani. —Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2026

Eric Kripke and Evan Goldberg, the executive producers on The Boys and its spin-offs, acknowledged the show’s conclusion in a statement to PEOPLE, while assuring fans that its storylines will continue elsewhere in the franchise. —Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026

Mike Florio and Chris Simms discuss some of the top storylines heading into the 2026 NFL draft. —Andrew Greif, NBC news, 24 Apr. 2026

As Season 3 of Euphoria continues to stir up some controversy, one of the show’s stars is perplexed by Cassie’s (Sydney Sweeney) OnlyFans storyline. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2026

In January 2025, Puck reported for the first time that the delay was tied to the Chandler storyline. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2026

McKidd and Raver's departures are due to creative decisions based on a storyline, USA TODAY previously learned, but the door is open for their characters returning in the future. —Edward Segarra, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026

Quarterback play was among the biggest storylines for TCU football during spring training camp. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2026

What are the key storylines around Senegal? —Tom Williams, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2026

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