story
1a narrative, either true or fictitious, in prose or verse, designed to interest, amuse, or instruct the hearer or reader; tale.
a fictitious tale, shorter and less elaborate than a novel.
such narratives or tales as a branch of literature: song and story.
the plot or succession of incidents of a novel, poem, drama, etc.: The characterizations were good, but the story was weak.
a narration of an incident or a series of events or an example of these that is or may be narrated, as an anecdote, joke, etc.
a narration of the events in the life of a person or the existence of a thing, or such events as a subject for narration: the story of medicine; the story of his life.
a report or account of a matter; statement or allegation: The story goes that he rejected the offer.
a lie or fabrication: What he said about himself turned out to be a story.
Obsolete. history.
to ornament with pictured scenes, as from history or legend.
Obsolete. to tell the history or story of.
Origin of story
1Other words for story
Other words from story
- sto·ry·less, adjective
Other definitions for story (2 of 3)
a complete horizontal section of a building, having one continuous or practically continuous floor.
the set of rooms on the same floor or level of a building.
any major horizontal architectural division, as of a façade or the wall of a nave.
a layer.
Origin of story
2- Also especially British, sto·rey .
Other definitions for Story (3 of 3)
Joseph, 1779–1845, U.S. jurist.
William Wet·more [wet-mawr, -mohr], /ˈwɛtˌmɔr, -ˌmoʊr/, 1819–95, U.S. sculptor and poet.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use story in a sentence
“I think the types of stories we do are very similar to what happened with hip-hop,” says Jones.
‘Black Dynamite’ Presents Police Brutality: The Musical | Stereo Williams | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTPetty, shade, and thirst are my favorite human “virtues” and the trifecta of any good series of “stories.”
‘Empire’ Review: Hip-Hop Musical Chairs with an Insane Soap Opera Twist | Judnick Mayard | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThree on-the-record stories from a family: a mother and her daughters who came from Phoenix.
I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 | Vicky Ward | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTAll of my stories are about people trying hard not to grow up.
Here’s the Lost Judd Apatow ‘Simpsons’ Episode, Penned by Judd Apatow | Asawin Suebsaeng | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThroughout all the stories of loss and pain with the Chief, there was barely a trace of emotion.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
The well-known "cock and bull" stories of small children are inspired by this love of strong effect.
Children's Ways | James SullyThese evidences of an impulse to look on correction as a quite proper thing are corroborated by stories of self-punishment.
Children's Ways | James SullyBut all you can think of are the horror stories about the worn out genes of Earth.
Sense of Obligation | Henry Maxwell Dempsey (AKA Harry Harrison)This tendency to take art-representations for realities reappears even in the mental attitude of a child towards his stories.
Children's Ways | James SullyI have made a small collection of early stories, and some of them are interesting enough to be quoted.
Children's Ways | James Sully
British Dictionary definitions for story (1 of 2)
/ (ˈstɔːrɪ) /
a narration of a chain of events told or written in prose or verse
Also called: short story a piece of fiction, briefer and usually less detailed than a novel
Also called: story line the plot of a book, film, etc
an event that could be the subject of a narrative
a report or statement on a matter or event
the event or material for such a report
informal a lie, fib, or untruth
cut a long story short or make a long story short to leave out details in a narration
the same old story informal the familiar or regular course of events
the story goes it is commonly said or believed
to decorate (a pot, wall, etc) with scenes from history or legends
Origin of story
1British Dictionary definitions for story (2 of 2)
/ (ˈstɔːrɪ) /
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with story
In addition to the idiom beginning with story
- story of my life, the
also see:
- cock and bull story
- cover story
- fish story
- hard-luck story
- make a long story short
- old story
- same old story
- shaggy dog story
- sob story
- upper story
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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