chronicle

noun chron·i·cle \ ˈkrä-ni-kəl \

|Updated on: 15 Aug 2018

Examples: chronicle in a Sentence

Definition of chronicle

1 : a historical account of events arranged in order of time usually without analysis or interpretation

a chronicle of the Civil War

2 : narrative 1

a chronicle of the struggle against drug traffickers

See chronicle defined for English-language learners

See chronicle defined for kids

Examples of chronicle in a Sentence

a chronicle of the American Civil War
a chronicle of the President's years in office

Recent Examples of chronicle from the Web

Such writerly panache is the true saving grace of Mr Orange’s chronicle.

— The Economist, "Tommy Orange’s debut novel is a work of defiance and recovery," 5 July 2018
Here with reaction, the author of the New Book a chronicles of the president's success in a little over 500 days.

— Fox News, "Questions remain after Wray and Horowitz testify," 19 June 2018
What secures the album as a chronicle of force and feeling is its sustained elevation, its mastery of self.

— jason parham, WIRED, "Beyoncé, Kendrick, Kanye, and How the World Seeks to Limit Black Genius," 20 Apr. 2018
Across the River and Into the Trees, the book that Hemingway worked on and that was ultimately released during these years, is, after all, a literary chronicle of the infatuation itself.

— dana snitzky, Longreads, "Hemingway’s Last Girl," 12 July 2018
On albums that empathize with outsiders and chronicle subcultures from pro wrestling to goth, Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle has staked a claim as one of the best songwriters of his generation.

— jim kiest, San Antonio Express-News, "Concerts coming in 2018-2019 to San Antonio," 4 June 2018
The photographs of subjects in the U.S. and the Middle East chronicle moments that shape feminine identity.

— sandy guerra-cline, star-telegram, "There's so much going on this weekend, the top 10 list just can't choose | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 25 Apr. 2018
The graphic-novel history, coming out this week, is illustrated by Tomm Coker and C.P. Smith and is a lively and accessible chronicle of America’s pastime, with panels that crack and wallop with image and fact.

— nina maclaughlin, BostonGlobe.com, "Graphic-novel history of America’s pastime; posthumous stories from Maine’s Elaine Ford," 4 May 2018
The photos chronicle Narisawa’s investigation of sustainability, innovation, and design in food and culture.

— brittany martin, Los Angeles Magazine, "10 Fun, Free Things to Do in L.A. This May," 1 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chronicle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of chronicle

Middle English cronicle, from Anglo-French, alteration of chronike, from Latin chronica, from Greek chronika, from neuter plural of chronikos — see chronic

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

chronicle Synonyms

Synonyms

account, chronology, commentary (usually commentaries), history, narration, narrative, record, report, story;

Related Words

version;

deposition, documentation, testament, testimonial, testimony, witness;

annals, blog, diary, journal, log, logbook, memoir;

anecdote, tale, yarn;

epic, saga;

recital, recitation;

case history, case study;

Other Publishing Terms

annotate, dreadful, emend, expurgate, factoid, jump, lobster shift, redaction, referee

chronicle

verb

Definition of chronicle

chronicled; chronicling \-k(ə-)liŋ\

transitive verb

: to present a record of in or as if in a chronicle

chronicle Victorian society

chronicle the doings of the rich and famous

—

chronicler

play \-k(ə-)lər\ noun

See chronicle defined for English-language learners

Examples of chronicle in a Sentence

The book chronicles the events that led to the American Civil War.
She intends to chronicle the broad social changes that have occurred in this part of the country.
a magazine that chronicles the lives of the rich and famous

Recent Examples of chronicle from the Web

The book chronicles four key cases stemming from the U.S. incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II and the attorney who argued them. 6:30 p.m., 678 Mission St., San Francisco.

— SFChronicle.com, "Bay Area political events: WWII internments, Pink Triangle," 21 June 2018
Carolyn Beeler of Public Radio International chronicles the decision’s instigating events including divisive strikes, climate change awareness, and a levy on coal usage.

— katie kosma, Longreads, "Mining Britain’s Recent Past to Save Our Future," 21 June 2018
The resulting film chronicled her collaboration with others to bring to the inmates Vipassana, an ancient meditation practice.

— bryan marquard, BostonGlobe.com, "Jenny Phillips, writer and award-winning filmmaker, dies at 76," 13 July 2018
Released April 27 — the deadline for a project to be considered for September's 70th Primetime Emmy Awards — An Emmy for Megan chronicles Amram's journey to become an actress worthy of the TV Academy's benediction.

— pete keeley, The Hollywood Reporter, "Megan Amram Lands 2 Emmy Noms for Series in Which She Campaigns for an Emmy," 12 July 2018
And a Republic investigation chronicled how the founder of American Leadership Academy, one of the state's largest charter networks, made millions of dollars in profit in part through the state's lax charter laws.

— ricardo cano, azcentral, "Arizona superintendent candidates: Charters need more financial oversight," 12 July 2018
Singer Kam Franklin chronicled the incident Monday in the courtroom of Judge Leigh F. Saint-Germain.

— fernando alfonso iii, Houston Chronicle, "Houston's municipal court apologizes to Suffers vocalist scolded for taking wedding photos," 11 July 2018
Blair chronicled the romance from the beginning of the flight to baggage claim.

— kelli stacy, courant.com, "Former UConn Soccer Player Euan Holden Part Of Viral Twitter Thread About In-Flight Romance," 6 July 2018
Erika Andersen's powerful memoir Leaving Cloud 9, out today, chronicles her husband Rick Sylvester's upbringing in a trailer park named Cloud 9.

— erika andersen, Good Housekeeping, "The Only Reason My Husband Survived Abuse and Poverty As a Child: His Faith in God," 26 June 2018

Origin and Etymology of chronicle

see ¹chronicle

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

chronicle Synonyms

Synonyms

chart, describe, narrate, recite, recount, rehearse, relate, report, tell;

detail, enumerate, itemize, particularize;

bare, disclose, divulge, expose, let on (about), reveal;

delineate, depict, express, render, sketch;

Phrases

set forth;

Other Publishing Terms

annotate, dreadful, emend, expurgate, factoid, jump, lobster shift, redaction, referee

CHRONICLE Defined for English Language Learners

chronicle

noun

Definition of chronicle for English Language Learners

: a description of events in the order that they happened

chronicle

verb

Definition of chronicle for English Language Learners

: to describe a series of events in the order that they happened

CHRONICLE Defined for Kids

chronicle

noun chron·i·cle \ ˈkrä-ni-kəl \

Definition of chronicle for Students

: an account of events in the order that they happened : history

Word Root of chronicle

The Greek word chronos, meaning “time,” gives us the root chron. Words from the Greek chronos have something to do with time. The chronological order of events is the order in which they happened in time. Anything that is chronic lasts for a very long time. A chronicle is a telling of events in the order in which they happened in time.