as in story
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 line
Rodgers and Watt might be the biggest storylines this time of year, but OTAs are also a great opportunity for under-the-radar players to make their cases.
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Mike Defabo, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Okay, this might be a little hyperbole, but the final beats of the Season 10 finale reveal a hook-up that fans have longed for, but was thought to have been abandoned as a storyline.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 21 May 2025
With such a variety of capabilities among the contenders, the race for the starting quarterback role is shaping up to be a compelling storyline for the Knights this offseason.
—Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 May 2025
Throughout the course of the college football offseason, North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick has been arguably the biggest storyline.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for story line
Mike Defabo, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Okay, this might be a little hyperbole, but the final beats of the Season 10 finale reveal a hook-up that fans have longed for, but was thought to have been abandoned as a storyline.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 21 May 2025
With such a variety of capabilities among the contenders, the race for the starting quarterback role is shaping up to be a compelling storyline for the Knights this offseason.
—Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 May 2025
Throughout the course of the college football offseason, North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick has been arguably the biggest storyline.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for story line
Recent Examples of Synonyms for story line
Noun
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Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.—
Tommy McArdle,
People.com,
19 May 2025
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This story was originally published May 17, 2025 at 10:13 PM.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
18 May 2025
Noun
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Both directors have shown a preference for character over plot, building stories around individuals who are filled with desires, fears, flaws and contradictions — individuals who tend to feel more like real people than movie characters.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2025
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The more than 2 million people who attended Lady Gaga’s free concert on Copacabana Beach on May 3, 2025, had no idea of a plot that, if successful, would have turned the event into a tragedy fueled by hate.—
Arthur Coelho Bezerra,
The Conversation,
14 May 2025
Noun
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McQuarrie is so good at parsing out action sequences, dramatic scenes and character moments, and one key scene – where Ethan is quietly investigating a wrecked sub and being tossed and turned like a washing machine – is even oddly calming.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
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Tickets inclusive for all three days of NASCAR action Friday, Saturday and Sunday range between $154 and $170, according to Ticketmaster.—
Shane Connuck,
Charlotte Observer,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Story line.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/story%20line. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
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