narration

[na-rey-shuhn]

noun

1. something narrated; an account, story, or narrative.

2. the act or process of narrating.

3. a recital of events, especially in chronological order, as the story narrated in a poem or the exposition in a drama.

4. Rhetoric.,  (in classical speech) the third part, the exposition of the question.

narration

/ nəˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of narrating

2. a narrated account or story; narrative

3. (in traditional rhetoric) the third step in making a speech, the putting forward of the question

narration

1. The recounting of an event or series of events; the act of telling a story.

Other Word Forms

• narrational adjective
• nonnarration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of narration¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin narrātiōn-, stem of narrātiō “narrative, story”; equivalent to narrate + -ion

Example Sentences

Having stripped away most of the documentary’s narration and sit-down interviews with Kerr’s family and friends, the film barely explores anyone’s psychology — and Blunt’s railroaded Dawn loses her chance to speak for herself.

From Los Angeles Times

Sometimes he sounds almost rushed, peppering his narration with “so forths,” and making his readers play odds-or-evens to attribute long stretches of dialogue.

From Los Angeles Times

Worst by far, for the journeyman performer, is the looming specter of AI-generated narration.

From Los Angeles Times

He weaves in Aishe’s childhood memories of her father, with her Uyghur language narration addressed to him, as she asks imploring questions of a man who will never be able to answer.

From Los Angeles Times

I even got to meet Bryant in person, backstage at the Hollywood Bowl, when he rehearsed his narration of “Dear Basketball” at an all-Williams concert.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• anecdote 
• narrative 
• tale 
• voice-over