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 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 Multiple story lines in the first season are fuelled by the fear that one spouse is aging faster than the other, whether physically or psychologically—an underexplored but undoubtedly common anxiety among couples approaching retirement age. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 15 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for story lines
  1. stories
  2. plots
  3. actions
Noun
  • Horrific news stories about hospitals making choices about who received treatment began to shape her story.
    — Felicia Feaster, AJC.com, 27 July 2026
  • As with any prestige product or famous brand, many stories have been created around champagne, sometimes to increase the mystique, sometimes in an effort to explain things that are not easy to understand, sometimes to make complicated things simple.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
Definition of stories
Noun
  • This is a world of movers and shakers, and the plots have a frolicking quality that feels complementary to the Bob & Earl song that inspired the title of the first book, Harlem Shuffle.
    — Niela Orr, Vulture, 20 July 2026
  • While Rhaenyra flails from one problem to the next, Ormund plots and schemes and uses his wits to undo his enemies.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of plots
Noun
  • In June, The View even invoked the face and voice of its founder, the late Barbara Walters, in an on-air ad that criticized the FCC and urged viewers to push back against the organization’s actions.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 27 July 2026
  • None of the characters has convincing motivation for their actions or words.
    — Zack Sharf, Variety, 27 July 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 30 Jul. 2026.

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