narration

American  

[na-rey-shuhn] / næˈreɪ ʃən /

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.

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narration British  

/ 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

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narration Cultural  

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

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Other Word Forms

• narrational adjective
• nonnarration noun

Etymology

Origin of narration

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

Example Sentences

Most of its well-known screen adaptations, by contrast, are much less severe, the narration more direct, and the relationship between Catherine Earnshaw and her adopted brother Heathcliff firmly centered.

From Salon • Feb. 21, 2026

Actor Wil Wheaton, who played young Gordie Lachance in the movie, provides the narration.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 2, 2026

Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said Monday he was grateful for his first Grammy, after bagging the top music industry award for audio book, narration and storytelling.

From Barron's • Feb. 2, 2026

This statement, spoken through mechanical narration that makes it all the more barbaric, made my heart sink and my teeth grit.

From Salon • Feb. 1, 2026

Still, though, even when they were dull I enjoyed the disconcerting combination of French life and English narration.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

Related Words

• anecdote
• narrative
• tale
• voice-over