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View synonyms for story

story

1

[stawr-ee, stohr-ee]

noun

plural

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

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

  3. such narratives or tales as a branch of literature.

    song and story.

  4. the plot or succession of incidents of a novel, poem, drama, etc..

    The characterizations were good, but the story was weak.

  5. 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.

    Synonyms: recital
  6. 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.

  7. a report or account of a matter; statement or allegation.

    The story goes that he rejected the offer.

    Synonyms: description
  8. news story.

  9. a lie or fabrication.

    What he said about himself turned out to be a story.

  10. Obsolete.,  history.



verb (used with object)

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

  2. Obsolete.,  to tell the history or story of.

story

2
especially British, sto·rey

[stawr-ee, stohr-ee]

noun

plural

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

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

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

  4. a layer.

Story

3

[stawr-ee, stohr-ee]

noun

  1. Joseph, 1779–1845, U.S. jurist.

  2. William Wetmore 1819–95, U.S. sculptor and poet.

story

1

/ ˈstɔːrɪ /

noun

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

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

  3. Also called: story linethe plot of a book, film, etc

  4. an event that could be the subject of a narrative

  5. a report or statement on a matter or event

  6. the event or material for such a report

  7. informal,  a lie, fib, or untruth

  8. to leave out details in a narration

  9. informal,  the familiar or regular course of events

  10. it is commonly said or believed

“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

verb

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

“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

story

2

/ ˈstɔːrɪ /

noun

  1. 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
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Other Word Forms

  • storyless adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of story1

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

Origin of story2

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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of story1

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The stories we tell and retell carry the same knowing.

From Salon

Crime writer Reverend Richard Coles, who describes himself as a "Midlander to my very core", is "delighted" a TV adaptation of his stories has been filmed in the West Midlands.

From BBC

When I first went to my therapist many years ago, she told me the story of the selkies.

“I knew I was telling a story, not making a traditional documentary,” Peck says.

Make it a story about West African women and Black hair and you’ve got a real unicorn when it comes to representation on Broadway, she adds.

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Stortingstory arc