plot line

American  

noun

1. Usually plot lines. dialogue that advances the plot, as in a play or motion-picture script.

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Usage

What is a plot line? The plot line of a story is the direction that the plot takes or the plot itself—what the story is about, including the action and events that the story tells about. It is often spelled as one word, as plotline.A close synonym is story line. This sense of the word can also be used in the context of a real-life event to refer to one part of what’s happening, as in There’s a new plot line in the corporate scandal. Less commonly, the term plot line refers to a line of dialogue that advances a story’s plot in some way, such as by providing information about what has happened elsewhere. This sense of the word is often used in the plural form plot lines.Example: I thought the novel had a few unnecessary plot lines that didn’t go anywhere.

Etymology

Origin of plot line

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

And I do want to acknowledge that it’s a starting point, not the actual plot line.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 29, 2026

The big plot line this year involved Sandoval and Ariana Madix, his longtime beau who broke up with him after Scandoval.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2024

This is not your run-of-the-mill plot line from “Madam Secretary” or “The West Wing.”

From Seattle Times • Feb. 2, 2024

In an interview with the BBC's Amol Rajan, the star praised Armstrong for executing the plot line "brilliantly", however.

From BBC • May 26, 2023

The plot line itself, to finish up, is largely the result of a rather unholy collaborative effort.

From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger