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

As kids change their creations or storylines, the sets respond in real time, creating endlessly evolving adventures and encouraging imaginative, hands-on play. —ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026

Both of these storylines are still evolving, and likely to dominate the news in the days, weeks, and months ahead. —Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026

The storyline between Broderick and Sheedy was something that new director John Badham was keen to put in the forefront. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2026

The packed bracket was just one of the storylines accompanying Sunday’s regionals reveal. —John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026

This is for the fans of exciting storylines, big personalities and athleticism or, in other words, the world of wrestling! —Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2026

Greece Giannis Antetokounmpo has never had particularly memorable supporting casts on his national team, but one interesting storyline to watch in the next few months is the commitment of Andrej Stojakovic. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2026

Sunday’s match against Orlando City has a few intriguing storylines, starting with the rivalry between the clubs. —Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2026

Put simply, the Citrini memo storyline is going to be dead wrong. —Jim Cramer, CNBC, 1 Mar. 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