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

• action
• plot
• story

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

And you can get hooked into some of those storylines. —Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025

One of the most memorable storylines during Hartwell's NXT tenure was her romance with Lumis. —Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025

Loomer and Benjamin’s book drapes the storyline and imperfect characters with rich details, dialogue, humor and backstories, some fully realized, while others come across as fleeting but enticing sketches, deserving of their own plays. —Frank Rizzo, Variety, 28 Apr. 2025

Let’s recap some of the notable storylines from a busy April. —Sam Khan Jr., New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025

While this development became one of the draft’s biggest storylines, the prank call added an unnecessary layer of humiliation to an already challenging experience. —Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 28 Apr. 2025

But until then, here are five storylines that will dominate the conversation in anticipation of horse racing’s biggest race. —John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025

Here are five storylines going into training camp: WHO’S IN CAMP? —Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 27 Apr. 2025

Paula Jo’s is one of the few storylines that remains fragmented by the end of Season 1, which leaves room for twists and turns if the show is greenlit for a second season. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 17 Apr. 2025

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