story lines

noun

plural of story line
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

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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 Once the mission begins, his team of camera operators and story producers follow every player’s move and anticipate all approaches to the mission, which, once complete, also provides an opportunity to set up story lines for later. — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026 These story lines add a sense of urgency and progress to a series that was a little too comfortable being amiably aimless. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026 Whenever next season begins (if there is a season), a Cannarella-Marsee center field battle should be one of the most fascinating story lines. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 2026 Dwayne Hickman starred as the titular character Dobie Gillis, the lovestruck teenager whose quest for romance drove the show’s story lines. — Sophie Clausen, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026 From there, readers can dive into all sorts of comics from Marvel history, from original Fantastic Four and Spider-Man comics from the '60s to more recent titles and event crossovers that were the basis for MCU story lines. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 8 July 2026 The series combines potty-mouthed put-downs with more sentimental story lines. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for story lines
  1. stories
  2. plots
  3. actions
Noun
  • Makary's time at the agency was defined by scientific disputes, leadership changes and a string of media stories detailing low morale and internal dysfunction among staffers.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Movies bring audiences across the country the unique magic of sitting with their neighbors to see extraordinary stories told on the big screen at their local cinema.
    — Paul Gunsky, IndieWire, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of stories
Noun
  • Since Guadagnino’s first feature in 1999, The Protagonists, a mockumentary starring Tilda Swinton as a filmmaker re-creating a real-life murder in London, his work has encompassed a variety of plots, tones, and textures.
    — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Accenture said implementation, over 25,000 supply chain workflows have been executed, and close to nearly 25,000 land plots have been monitored automatically.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of plots
Noun
  • In others, his accounts bought the debt after the federal government had executed regulatory or funding actions involving the very same borrower or project.
    — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Within this region are two major neural pathways, known as the direct and indirect pathways, which appear to exert opposing influences over which actions are expressed.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of actions

Browse Nearby Words

story line
story lines
storyteller
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Cite this Entry

“Story lines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/story%20lines. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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