storyline
- 01 B1 Intermediate
the series of events that make up the plot of a book, movie, or play.
the narrative arc or plot of a creative work, often involving the development of characters and conflict.
Simple“The movie had great acting, but the storyline was a bit confusing.”
In context“Critics praised the novel for its intricate storyline, which successfully balanced three separate timelines without losing the reader's interest.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
a description of how a situation might develop in the future, often used in science or business.
a narrative description of a specific modelling scenario used to explain technical or socioeconomic drivers in research.
Simple“The scientists created a storyline to show how the climate might change by 2050.”
In context“The report outlines a storyline in which rapid technological adoption significantly offsets the projected increase in carbon emissions.”
Synonyms
From story + line. The climate science usage is defined in the IPCC WG III AR5 report (2014).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.