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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of story lines
There were plenty of compelling story lines taking shape as the sun began to dip on the legendary course.
—
Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
Ahead of Game 1, here’s what our colleagues have to say about some of the biggest story lines from this year’s finals.
—Austin Elias-De Jesus, New Yorker, 3 June 2026
And while Louis and Molloy are mostly absent from the source material, Jones and the writers’ room invented new story lines for them, sometimes repurposing plot points from future Vampire Chronicles entries.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 2 June 2026
Because the casting and story lines that developed gave us people to root for and against—something every great Survivor season needs.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
Running Point has basketball, familial drama and romantic story lines — but off-screen, much of the cast is committed to their real-life partners.
—Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Here are four Hurricanes story lines to follow over the course of the draft.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
Through interviews with almost 30 immigrants navigating the H-1B system, the team learned of the real impact of policy changes and incorporated them into game story lines.
—Ko Lyn Cheang, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Mar. 2026
In a political thriller with intertwining story lines, the A-lister stars as a veteran CIA agent who uncovers an assassination plot in the Middle East.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
Ahead of Game 1, here’s what our colleagues have to say about some of the biggest story lines from this year’s finals.
—Austin Elias-De Jesus, New Yorker, 3 June 2026
And while Louis and Molloy are mostly absent from the source material, Jones and the writers’ room invented new story lines for them, sometimes repurposing plot points from future Vampire Chronicles entries.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 2 June 2026
Because the casting and story lines that developed gave us people to root for and against—something every great Survivor season needs.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
Running Point has basketball, familial drama and romantic story lines — but off-screen, much of the cast is committed to their real-life partners.
—Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Here are four Hurricanes story lines to follow over the course of the draft.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
Through interviews with almost 30 immigrants navigating the H-1B system, the team learned of the real impact of policy changes and incorporated them into game story lines.
—Ko Lyn Cheang, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Mar. 2026
In a political thriller with intertwining story lines, the A-lister stars as a veteran CIA agent who uncovers an assassination plot in the Middle East.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for story lines
Noun
-
Its grandeur, natural beauty, and larger-than-life mythos fuel these narratives, with some of the most sacred stories belonging to those who have resided on the land from time immemorial.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
The food and travel personality explores the people, places and hidden stories behind iconic global destinations.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
Casting child star vocal talents to bring his line drawings to life for the characters surrounding Charlie Brown (and his endless dilemmas of life story plots) wasn’t an easy feat for Schulz, since, after all, children grow up, and their vocals mature.—
Philip Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
3 June 2026
-
Jane’s characters brim with oddball wisdom, and her genre-bending plots are always a delight.—
Tessa Yang,
PEOPLE,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Those requests must be tied to specific needs and response actions and are evaluated through the state's Drought Task Force.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
-
Prior to 2020, the agency received, on average, records of 6,000 teacher license actions annually from all 50 states, Adams said.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Story lines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/story%20lines. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
