as in stories
the unfolding of events in a dramatic or literary work
the story line is clumsily interrupted several times to provide some much-needed background information
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Recent Examples of story lines
One of the biggest Media Day story lines surrounding the Miami Heat this upcoming season has to do with a player who won’t be available for the start of the season.
—
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2025
The fantastic is used to sketch out familiar story lines, but the metaphysical premise remains as vague as the dramatic stakes in the lives of the characters.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
With high school football practices set to kick off Friday, there are always a slew of story lines to follow during the regular season.
—Danny Ventura, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2025
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2025
The fantastic is used to sketch out familiar story lines, but the metaphysical premise remains as vague as the dramatic stakes in the lives of the characters.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
With high school football practices set to kick off Friday, there are always a slew of story lines to follow during the regular season.
—Danny Ventura, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for story lines
Noun
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Get Morning Squawk directly in your inbox CNBC's Morning Squawk recaps the biggest stories investors should know before the stock market opens, every weekday morning.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
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Don't miss out on our latest stories.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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For all of Liverpool’s plots and schemes, there could be no plan for the fastest final goal in Champions League history, one scored by Paolo Maldini inside the first minute of the game.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
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Those old-fashioned TV-show plots with a premeditated murder committed for some explicable reason, that’s really an anachronism.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Anything can impact a president's rating, such as legislation passed, actions and elections.—
Laura Daniella Sepulveda,
AZCentral.com,
27 Sep. 2025
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The new report called for Bickle to apologize for his actions.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
27 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Story lines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/story%20lines. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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