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.

---

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

---

narration Cultural  

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

---

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

Explanation

Narration is the act of telling a story, usually in some kind of chronological order. Making up a scary ghost story and relating it around a camp fire is an act of narration. Narration generally means any kind of explaining or telling of something. It is usually used in reference to storytelling. If you've ever watched a television show where one character's voice talks directly to the audience, then you've heard narration. You will often find narration happening in songs where the singer is telling the story of how something happened — like the day he lost his guitar, his truck, his wife, and started singing the blues.

Example Sentences

Mr. Hanks provides introductions and closing comments to each episode; his narration throughout is unobtrusive and very low-key, unlike a few of the experts who populate the space lying between the historical footage and photographs.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

The landmark series Sir David works on often take three or four years to complete, with his involvement stretching far beyond narration.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

He’s somewhat delighted by the Norman Rockwell-esque scene he walks into, detailing his surroundings in extensive voicemails to his estranged wife that serve as a narration.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

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

I focus on his face as he continues his narration about the kidnapped plastic bride.

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed

Related Words

• anecdote
• narrative
• tale
• voice-over