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
Not a lot happens in any of these story lines.
—
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
The frenzy is being driven by a large local alumni base and riveting story lines like Indiana’s Heisman trophy-winning quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, returning home to play in South Florida, where his Cuban heritage has been engaging new audiences.
—Anna J. Kaiser, Fortune, 16 Jan. 2026
Sesame Street has also evolved over the years with new characters and story lines that reflect the changing times, including social-emotional learning and mental health.
—Sari Hitchins, Parents, 15 Jan. 2026
That battle in the trenches stands among the most intriguing story lines of the first-round playoff game.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Dec. 2025
The dizzying pace and overlapping story lines add to the show’s real-time immersiveness.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
But what's really cool is how the movie brings those story lines together in a narrative filled with intriguing twists, gnarly kills, heroic sacrifices and a slew of nifty new Predator designs.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
The script includes a sprawling cast of characters with disparate story lines that all converge on a fictional Western settlement.
—Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 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
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
The frenzy is being driven by a large local alumni base and riveting story lines like Indiana’s Heisman trophy-winning quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, returning home to play in South Florida, where his Cuban heritage has been engaging new audiences.
—Anna J. Kaiser, Fortune, 16 Jan. 2026
Sesame Street has also evolved over the years with new characters and story lines that reflect the changing times, including social-emotional learning and mental health.
—Sari Hitchins, Parents, 15 Jan. 2026
That battle in the trenches stands among the most intriguing story lines of the first-round playoff game.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Dec. 2025
The dizzying pace and overlapping story lines add to the show’s real-time immersiveness.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
But what's really cool is how the movie brings those story lines together in a narrative filled with intriguing twists, gnarly kills, heroic sacrifices and a slew of nifty new Predator designs.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
The script includes a sprawling cast of characters with disparate story lines that all converge on a fictional Western settlement.
—Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 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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Michael Venos, a 46-year-old database administrator from Roxbury, New Jersey, has been collecting stories of Groundhog Day events and their weather predictions for about a decade.—
Mark Scolforo,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
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Her goal is to improve the health of our community through easy-to-understand facts and real people's stories.—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In all plots, black circles represent the mean value of each environmental variables at each site, and the lines the SD.—
GrrlScientist,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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Some films linger in our minds because of their sharp plots, quotable one-liners and unforgettable characters.—
Kailyn Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the legislature should act on the report’s recommendations with actions to strengthen reporting, enforce existing laws, prevent further abandonment of wells and ensure polluters pay for cleanup.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
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Penny, too, was acquitted by a jury who decided his actions were reasonable.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Story lines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/story%20lines. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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