# narrator

/ˈnɛɹeɪtɝ/ (US) · /nɐɹˈeɪtɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/narrator
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. storyteller

noun · CEFR B1

the person who tells the story in a book or film.

For teachers: the person or character who recounts the events of a narrative.

- The narrator of the novel is a young boy living in London.
- The author chose a first-person narrator to provide an intimate, though perhaps unreliable, perspective on the unfolding family drama.

### 2. voice-over

noun · CEFR B2

the person you hear speaking in a documentary or advertisement who is not seen on screen.

For teachers: the off-screen voice providing commentary or information in a film, television programme, or documentary.

- The narrator in the nature documentary explained how the birds build their nests.
- The documentary's narrator maintained a neutral tone, allowing the stark visual evidence of climate change to speak for itself.

Usage: Often used in the context of non-fiction media.

## Examples

- The narrator has a very deep and calm voice.
- In many documentaries, a professional narrator explains the history of the locations while the camera shows the scenery.
- The film uses an unreliable narrator to keep the audience guessing about which events actually occurred and which were merely figments of the protagonist's imagination.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.