ENGLISH
REFERENCE

storyline

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈstɔɹiˌɫaɪn// UK //stˈɔːɹɪlˌaɪn// sto·ry·line

n. the main events and plot of a book, movie, or play. It describes how the story starts, develops, and ends.

n. the plot or sequence of events in a narrative work. Often used to describe the structural development of a fictional account.


SIMPLE

The movie has a very simple storyline.

CONTEXTUAL

Critics praised the novel for its complex storyline and the way it connected multiple characters' lives.

COMPLEX

While the visual effects were stunning, the weak storyline failed to engage the audience, leaving many feeling that the film lacked emotional depth.

Origin

From story + line. The climate science usage is defined in the IPCC WG III AR5 report (2014).

Usage

Commonly paired with adjectives like 'compelling', 'convoluted', or 'predictable'.

© 2026 English Reference