story

[ stawr-ee, stohr-ee ]

/ ˈstɔr i, ˈstoʊr i /

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noun, plural sto·ries.

a narrative, either true or fictitious, in prose or verse, designed to interest, amuse, or instruct the hearer or reader; tale.

a fictitious tale, shorter and less elaborate than a novel.

such narratives or tales as a branch of literature: song and story.

the plot or succession of incidents of a novel, poem, drama, etc.: The characterizations were good, but the story was weak.

a narration of an incident or a series of events or an example of these that is or may be narrated, as an anecdote, joke, etc.

a narration of the events in the life of a person or the existence of a thing, or such events as a subject for narration: the story of medicine; the story of his life.

a report or account of a matter; statement or allegation: The story goes that he rejected the offer.

news story.

a lie or fabrication: What he said about himself turned out to be a story.

Obsolete. history.

verb (used with object), sto·ried, sto·ry·ing.

to ornament with pictured scenes, as from history or legend.

Obsolete. to tell the history or story of.

OTHER WORDS FOR story

1 legend, fable, romance; anecdote, record, history, chronicle.

5 recital.

7 description.

See synonyms for story on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of story

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English stori(e), store, “(written or oral) narrative; history,” from Anglo-French (e)storie (Old French estoire), from Latin historia history

OTHER WORDS FROM story

sto·ry·less, adjective

Other definitions for story (2 of 3)

story²

[ stawr-ee, stohr-ee ]

/ ˈstɔr i, ˈstoʊr i /

noun, plural sto·ries.

a complete horizontal section of a building, having one continuous or practically continuous floor.

the set of rooms on the same floor or level of a building.

any major horizontal architectural division, as of a façade or the wall of a nave.

a layer.

Also especially British, sto·rey .

Origin of story

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English stori(e), from Anglo-Latin (hi)storia architetcure term for a picture decorating a building, a part of the building so decorated, hence floor, story, from Latin historia history

Other definitions for story (3 of 3)

Story

[ stawr-ee, stohr-ee ]

/ ˈstɔr i, ˈstoʊr i /

noun

Joseph, 1779–1845, U.S. jurist.

William Wet·more

[wet-mawr, -mohr], /ˈwɛtˌmɔr, -ˌmoʊr/, 1819–95, U.S. sculptor and poet.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use story in a sentence

“I think the types of stories we do are very similar to what happened with hip-hop,” says Jones.
‘Black Dynamite’ Presents Police Brutality: The Musical|Stereo Williams|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Petty, shade, and thirst are my favorite human “virtues” and the trifecta of any good series of “stories.”
‘Empire’ Review: Hip-Hop Musical Chairs with an Insane Soap Opera Twist|Judnick Mayard|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Three on-the-record stories from a family: a mother and her daughters who came from Phoenix.
I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003|Vicky Ward|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
All of my stories are about people trying hard not to grow up.
Here’s the Lost Judd Apatow ‘Simpsons’ Episode, Penned by Judd Apatow|Asawin Suebsaeng|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Throughout all the stories of loss and pain with the Chief, there was barely a trace of emotion.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The well-known "cock and bull" stories of small children are inspired by this love of strong effect.
Children's Ways|James Sully
These evidences of an impulse to look on correction as a quite proper thing are corroborated by stories of self-punishment.
Children's Ways|James Sully
But all you can think of are the horror stories about the worn out genes of Earth.
Sense of Obligation|Henry Maxwell Dempsey (AKA Harry Harrison)
This tendency to take art-representations for realities reappears even in the mental attitude of a child towards his stories.
Children's Ways|James Sully
I have made a small collection of early stories, and some of them are interesting enough to be quoted.
Children's Ways|James Sully

British Dictionary definitions for story (1 of 2)

story¹

/ (ˈstɔːrɪ) /

noun plural -ries

a narration of a chain of events told or written in prose or verse

Also called: short story a piece of fiction, briefer and usually less detailed than a novel

Also called: story line the plot of a book, film, etc

an event that could be the subject of a narrative

a report or statement on a matter or event

the event or material for such a report

informal a lie, fib, or untruth

cut a long story short or make a long story short to leave out details in a narration

the same old story informal the familiar or regular course of events

the story goes it is commonly said or believed

verb -ries, -rying or -ried (tr)

to decorate (a pot, wall, etc) with scenes from history or legends

Word Origin for story

C13: from Anglo-French estorie, from Latin historia; see history

British Dictionary definitions for story (2 of 2)

story²

/ (ˈstɔːrɪ) /

noun plural -ries

another spelling (esp US) of storey

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with story

story

In addition to the idiom beginning with story

story of my life, the

also see:

cock and bull story
cover story
fish story
hard-luck story
make a long story short
old story
same old story
shaggy dog story
sob story
upper story

story

OTHER WORDS FOR story

Origin of story

OTHER WORDS FROM story

Other definitions for story (2 of 3)

Origin of story

Other definitions for story (3 of 3)

Words related to story

How to use story in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for story (1 of 2)

Word Origin for story

British Dictionary definitions for story (2 of 2)

Other Idioms and Phrases with story