# story

/ˈstɔɹi/ (US) · /stˈɔːɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/story
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a narrative

noun · CEFR A1

a description of events that are either real or imagined.

For teachers: a narrative account of real or fictional events, typically intended to entertain or inform.

- The grandfather told the children a bedtime story about a brave dragon.
- The novelist wove a complex story that spanned three generations, masterfully blending historical facts with imaginative fiction.

### 2. a floor of a building

noun · CEFR A2 · American English

one of the levels or floors in a building.

For teachers: a horizontal level or floor of a building. Often spelled 'storey' in British English.

- They live in a small apartment on the third story of the building.
- The developer proposed a twenty-story skyscraper, but local residents argued that such a tall structure would block the sunlight for nearby houses.

### 3. social media post

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a short video or photo on social media that disappears after 24 hours.

For teachers: a chronological collection of images or short videos published by a user on a social media platform, typically available for a limited duration.

- She posted a story of her lunch on Instagram for her friends to see.
- The brand used its daily story to provide behind-the-scenes footage of the photo shoot, driving significant engagement among its younger followers.

### 4. a lie

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

something that someone says that is not true.

For teachers: a falsehood or lie, often used when speaking to or about children.

- Don't tell stories; I know you were the one who broke the vase.
- The witness was accused of telling stories on the stand to protect his accomplice from prosecution.

### 5. software requirement

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a short description of what a user needs from a computer program.

For teachers: an informal, natural language description of one or more features of a software system, written from the perspective of an end user.

- The team discussed the new user story during their morning meeting.
- The product owner refined the story to ensure the developers understood the specific acceptance criteria for the checkout process.

### 6. to post social media

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

to upload a photo or video as a story on a social media app.

For teachers: to publish content to a temporary chronological feed on a social media platform.

- I forgot to story the concert while I was there last night.
- Influencers often story their entire day to maintain a sense of constant connection with their audience.

## Examples

- She tells her children a bedtime story every night.
- The local newspaper ran a front-page story about the opening of the new community center.
- While the plot is simple, the story explores complex themes of identity and belonging through its richly developed characters and evocative setting.

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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.