storyline

noun

sto·​ryline 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

Obviously, the love story between Sullivan and Ross is the main storyline between them. —Max Gao, Variety, 3 May 2024

The nine films are not being screened in order of release date, but rather by the chronology of the storyline. —Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 2 May 2024

There is a power that comes with the storyline of a woman kind of coming of age at 40 and rediscovering herself. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2024

Other possible reasons for the cancellation include a shift in focus from the original premise, younger actors aging out of their roles, another spinoff series in development and the desire to avoid the inevitable storyline of Sheldon's father having an affair and dying. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 2 May 2024

Throughout the movie, which is told in a series of flashbacks interwoven within the main storyline, Art faces the couple’s friend turned enemy, Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor), in a Challengers match. —Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 2 May 2024

Tying some storylines together loosely are Charlie’s ex-wife Martha (Diane Lane) and Martha’s best friend Joyce (Lucy Liu), who seems to run a cosmetics empire, but really… whatever. —Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 May 2024

William Jackson Harper puts his back into the role of Mayor Wes Jordan, a charismatic and ambitious political prodigy, but can’t quite summon the calculating menace required for his particular storyline. —Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 2 May 2024

Conrad and Jill, who are white in the book — and living in California — are Black in the series, which gives their storyline, heavily altered in other respects, a different sociopolitical flavor. —Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined at sense 1