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

Tanking was one of the major storylines of the 2025-26 regular season, particularly on social media where discourse often focused more on the league’s bad teams than the good ones. —Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 17 Apr. 2026

The performance is intercut with clips of a Bonnie and Clyde-like storyline of a series of heists. —Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2026

For the sake of great television, here’s hoping his recent knee injury doesn’t become a storyline in this series. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 17 Apr. 2026

If anything, this pairing makes quite a compelling storyline, one that feels straight out of you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026

So that part alone has a lot of storylines, a lot of history. —ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026

All three releases belong to a rapidly expanding category of interactive entertainment that’s defined less by compelling characters and storylines than the calming effect of creating and organizing a functional system. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026

The series’ impact goes beyond industry acclaim with a storyline that tackles the dangers of social media and online misogyny. —Denise Petski, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026

In the 2008 storyline, Peanut (Jarryd Joseph) is part of the family, having been befriended by Cricket Foster (Roderick Randle) when both were in elementary school. —Amy Reyes, Miami Herald, 16 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