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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of story lines
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
Anyway, there’s no shortage of story lines to follow over the next two weeks.
—The Editors, Vulture, 5 Feb. 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
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
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
Anyway, there’s no shortage of story lines to follow over the next two weeks.
—The Editors, Vulture, 5 Feb. 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for story lines
Noun
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Instead of desultoriness—a common atmosphere in these sorts of stories—the prevailing mood is one of qualified happiness.—
Deborah Treisman,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
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Kim Hjelmgaard is an investigative journalist covering global stories for USA TODAY, from living rooms to conflict zones.—
Younes Mohammad,
USA Today,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For more than six decades, communist Cuba thwarted every destabilizing measure Washington aimed its way — assassination plots, a trade embargo, sabotage, travel bans and, most notoriously, the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, when Fidel Castro’s revolution was still young and the Cold War raging.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
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Gavin is a true leader, guiding a group of high school technicians through tasks such as hanging light plots, patching, and programming the light board.—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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These facilities typically house dozens of robots in large office-like spaces spanning thousands of square meters, where human operators repeatedly perform simple tasks alongside the machines to generate and record detailed data on key physical actions.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Mar. 2026
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Making use of all the available tools and new technologies, the Festival’s Agora showcased a new series of actions and backed successful initiatives that took place both in physical spaces and online.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Story lines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/story%20lines. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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