story
1a 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.
a lie or fabrication: What he said about himself turned out to be a story.
Obsolete. history.
to ornament with pictured scenes, as from history or legend.
Obsolete. to tell the history or story of.
Origin of story
1Other words for story
Other words from story
- sto·ry·less, adjective
Words Nearby story
Other definitions for story (2 of 3)
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.
Origin of story
2- Also especially British, sto·rey .
Other definitions for Story (3 of 3)
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
We know that Malcolm X, El Hajj Malik El Shabazz, told his story truthfully.
How Laurence Fishburne Gave Voice To ‘The Autobiography Of Malcolm X’ | Joi-Marie McKenzie | September 17, 2020 | Essence.comHis story in our latest issue—the techno-nationalism issue—explains how the coronavirus pandemic appears to be accelerating Brazil’s slide toward a surveillance state.
Podcast: COVID-19 is helping turn Brazil into a surveillance state | Anthony Green | September 16, 2020 | MIT Technology ReviewThat’s been the dominant theme for years, and that’s the story of the recent selloff and mini-bounceback that followed.
Will tech stocks stumble or slide? What the fundamentals tell us | Shawn Tully | September 16, 2020 | FortuneOn their fourth date, they wrote a story about aliens together.
‘Antebellum’ explores truths of our ugly past | Brian T. Carney | September 16, 2020 | Washington BladeReporter Tarryn Mento will join us Wednesday on VOSD at Home to talk about her story.
Morning Report: The Dreaded Purple Tier | Voice of San Diego | September 16, 2020 | Voice of San Diego
The story of fluoridation reads like a postmodern fable, and the moral is clear: a scientific discovery might seem like a boon.
But along with the cartoon funk is an all-too-real story of police brutality embodied by a horde of evil Pigs.
‘Black Dynamite’ Presents Police Brutality: The Musical | Stereo Williams | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTWhatever the FBI says, the truthers will create alternative hypotheses that try to challenge the ‘official story.’
In its attempt to discredit the story, the JPO inadvertently confirmed that fact.
And extortion makes a lot more sense before a story hits the news wire, not after.
Phylicia Rashad and the Cult of Cosby Truthers | Stereo Williams | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTNothing but an extreme love of truth could have hindered me from concealing this part of my story.
Gulliver's Travels | Jonathan SwiftA few moments afterward he was seen dragging his own trunk ashore, while Mr. Hitchcock finished his story on the boiler deck.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | VariousObviously a tremendous question arises here as to how a story should be found in Genesis xiv.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature | Moncure Daniel ConwayThrough the beautiful, windy autumn days, he labored at his difficult task, the task of telling a story.
The Homesteader | Oscar MicheauxThe interest of the story is now at an end; but much yet remains before the conclusion.
British Dictionary definitions for story (1 of 2)
/ (ˈstɔːrɪ) /
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
to decorate (a pot, wall, etc) with scenes from history or legends
Origin of story
1British Dictionary definitions for story (2 of 2)
/ (ˈstɔːrɪ) /
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
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
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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