Definition of storynext
1
as in tale
a work with imaginary characters and events that is shorter and usually less complex than a novel he's a talented writer, but his quirky stories will never find a wide readership

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2
as in anecdote
a brief account of something interesting that happened especially to one personally Grandpa is always telling stories about what it was like growing up on a farm

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3
4
5
as in whisper
a rumor or report of a personal or sensational nature stories going around that the old man had died with thousands of dollars hidden under his mattress

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6
7
as in plot
the unfolding of events in a dramatic or literary work the story proceeds at a pace that many readers will find a bit too leisurely

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8
as in situation
position with regard to conditions and circumstances management is trying to figure out what the story is with the accident down in the warehouse

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of story Over seven nights, explore five centuries of story Two seven-night itineraries, Wonders of Colombia and Magic of Colombia, work the river between Cartagena and Barranquilla in opposite directions. — Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2026 At the time of this story’s publication, subject matter experts have only partially checked the Lean files. — Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2026 Zoë Bell has spent the better part of 25 years being other people — at speed, on fire and 20-odd stories above the ground. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026 The collection also comes with an intriguing provenance story of its own. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for story
Recent Examples of Synonyms for story
Noun
  • But as with many such tales of extraordinary success, the origin story is much darker.
    — Tracy Weber, ProPublica, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Still, this increasingly eerie repertory pick is phenomenally made science fiction and not to be missed by anyone who thinks the tale of a Cold War-era supercomputer demonstrating a shockingly plausible doomsday might be for them.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The top Democrats on the House Oversight and Natural Resources Committees plus the Senate Armed Services Committee have already requested more information about Vulcan and Reelement as well as NABEP, respectively.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The man's family has struggled to get any information from the hospital about his status or location, Lincoln-Goldfinch said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Postmortem commentaries on the campaign agreed that many factors were at play in Sinclair’s loss — FDR had kept his distance and progressive candidate Raymond Haight siphoned off votes from Sinclair — but Hollywood proudly took credit.
    — Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Two years ago, Shen Anyu, a voice actor who earns a living from narrating news commentaries and other short programs, began noticing an alarming number of videos on social-media platforms that seemed to feature his voice without his permission.
    — Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • At a time when so much contemporary art jockeys to be spectacular, Op de Beeck’s whispers, both commanding and requiring your attention.
    — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 11 Sep. 2026
  • In a fitting homage, the whiskey's whisper of a smoky, campfire-like finish sets it apart among Kentucky's expansive bourbon scene.
    — Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • These are two examples of politicians' truths among a plethora of others that are really lies, distortions, deceptions and desecrations of the citizens' trust in them.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
  • One of the revelations in this book is that Endeavor was founded, in your words, on a lie.
    — Lane Brown, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • This is barely a description of what actually happens, but more of an understanding of what lies beneath the surface of the plot, the emotional core of the adventure at hand, maybe even what critics sometimes call the driving force of a novel.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
  • There is a big revelation less than halfway into the show, one that might even count as a plot twist, and thus something not to be spoiled… if not for the fact that virtually every synopsis in the last 70 years has included it in the first sentence.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The relationship with the older woman ended after it was discovered, but the only person punished for it was the ethics officer who first reported the situation; he was caught up in accusations and counteraccusations for years.
    — Josephine Reisman, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Leaving an abusive situation is already incredibly difficult.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The novella was written in a moment when much was changing in India.
    — James Folta, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The company is working on a feature adaptation of Pulitzer Prize finalist Torrey Peters’ novella Stag Dance and a feature romantic comedy from Carly Usdin and Brittani Nichols featuring WNBA players Gabby Williams, Theresa Plaisance, and Syd Colson.
    — Peter White, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Story.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/story. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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