narrative

[nar-uh-tiv]

noun

a story or account of events, experiences, or the like, whether true or fictitious.
a book, literary work, etc., containing such a story.
the art, technique, or process of narrating, or of telling a story: Somerset Maugham was a master of narrative.

a story that connects and explains a carefully selected set of supposedly true events, experiences, or the like, intended to support a particular viewpoint or thesis: to rewrite the prevailing narrative about masculinity; the narrative that our public schools are failing.

adjective

consisting of or being a narrative: a narrative poem.
of or relating to narration, or the telling of a story: My English teacher's narrative skill makes characters seem to come to life.
Fine Arts. representing stories or events pictorially or sculpturally: narrative painting.Compare anecdotal(def 2).

Origin of narrative

1445–55; (adjective) < Middle French narratif (adjective and noun), from Late Latin narrātīvus “suitable for narration, narration” from narrāt-, stem of narrātus, perfect participle of narrāre “to narrate” + -ive

Related formsnar·ra·tive·ly, adverbnon·nar·ra·tive, adjective, nounsem·i·nar·ra·tive, adjective

Synonyms for narrative

1. chronicle, tale.

Synonym study

1. Narrative, account, recital, history are terms for a story of an event or events. Narrative is the general term (for a story long or short; of past, present, or future; factual or imagined; told for any purpose; and with or without much detail). The other three terms apply primarily to factual stories of time already past. An account is usually told informally, often for entertainment, with emphasis on details of action, whether about an incident or a series of happenings. A recital is an extended narrative usually with an informative purpose, emphasizing accuracy and exhaustive details of facts and figures. A history, usually written and at some length, is characterized by a tracing of causes and effects, and by an attempt to estimate, evaluate, and interpret facts.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for narratively

Contemporary Examples of narratively

How do you keep something like that together, narratively speaking?
‘No Regrets’: Peter Jackson Says Goodbye to Middle-Earth
Alex Suskind
December 4, 2014
But on the show you could actually tell it narratively over a long period of time.
The TV Superhero Guru Behind ‘The Flash’
Jason Lynch
October 6, 2014
I thought it was narratively satisfying—but it was not so savory.
Michael C. Hall on Where ‘Dexter’ Went Wrong and His New Killer Role in ‘Cold in July’
Melissa Leon
May 23, 2014
Too often, memoir seems to me an excuse to be fragmentary, incomplete, narratively non-rigorous.
Why Some Memoirs Are Better As Fiction
Taylor Antrim
January 19, 2010

Historical Examples of narratively

I have stated what were the avowed sentiments of the old Whigs, not in the way of argument, but narratively.
The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. IV. (of 12)
Edmund Burke
Who only narratively recited the words of an oath, as a reporter or historian, without a real or professed intent of swearing.
A Christian Directory
Baxter Richard

British Dictionary definitions for narratively

narrative

noun

an account, report, or story, as of events, experiences, etc
the narrative the part of a literary work that relates events
the process or technique of narrating

adjective

telling a storya narrative poem
of or relating to narrationnarrative art

Derived Formsnarratively, adverb

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

Word Origin and History for narratively

narrative

adj.

mid-15c., from Middle French narratif, from Late Latin narrativus "suited to narration," from Latin narrat-, stem of narrare (see narration).

narrative

"a tale, story," 1560s, from Middle French narrative and from narrative (adj.).