story
noun
a narrative, either true or fictitious, in prose or verse, designed to interest, amuse, or instruct the hearer or reader; tale.
story
1 American
[stawr-ee, stohr-ee]
/ ˈstɔr i, ˈstoʊr i /
noun
-
stories
plural
-
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.
- Synonyms:
- recital
-
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.
- Synonyms:
- description
-
a lie or fabrication.
What he said about himself turned out to be a story.
-
Obsolete. history.
verb (used with object)
storied,
storying
-
to ornament with pictured scenes, as from history or legend.
-
Obsolete. to tell the history or story of.
story
2
American
[stawr-ee, stohr-ee]
/ ˈstɔr i, ˈstoʊr i /
especially British,
storey
noun
-
stories
plural
-
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.
Story
3
American
[stawr-ee, stohr-ee]
/ ˈstɔr i, ˈstoʊr i /
noun
-
Joseph, 1779–1845, U.S. jurist.
-
William Wetmore 1819–95, U.S. sculptor and poet.
story
1
British
/ ˈstɔːrɪ /
noun
-
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
-
to leave out details in a narration
-
informal the familiar or regular course of events
-
it is commonly said or believed
verb
story
2
British
/ ˈstɔːrɪ /
noun
story
Idioms
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
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 architecture term for a picture decorating a building, a part of the building so decorated, hence floor, story, from Latin historia history
Explanation
If your little brother begs you to tell him a story, he wants to hear a short, entertaining tale. A narrative about people and events, usually including an interesting plot, is a story. A story can be fictional or true, and it can be written, read aloud, or made up on the spot. Journalists write stories for newspapers, and gossips spread stories that may or may not be true. A story can be historical; the root of story, the Latin word historia, means both "history" and "story."
Vocabulary lists containing story
Structural Engineering
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Foundational Reading
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Creative Writing - Introductory
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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.
See Examples For:
What makes the story sing is the author’s ability to evoke the consciousness of an intelligent person in decline.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
And the complexity of the Harry and Meghan story is requiring endurance on all sides.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
A third story set in modern-day Spain connects the dots.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026
Within hours, the story had spread across X with millions of views.
From Salon ● Oct. 15, 2026
Luna’s guitar lesson must be over, and Brie’s sing-along story time is starting.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
Damilola's killing is now the subject of a BBC documentary called Damilola: The Untold Story.
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026
“There’s something to be said about the staff work, and verifying before we do something like that publicly,” Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst told Raw Story.
From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2026
Wigglesworth is the author of “Trillions,” a history of the index-fund revolution, and his new book, “A Fabulous Debt: The Epic Story of How Bonds Built the Modern World,” is out Sept. 29 from Portfolio/Penguin.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026
In “Ausländer: One Family’s Story of Escape and Exile,” Mr. Moritz traces the generational arc of trauma and displacement that has also encompassed his own life experience.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026
“Once, Nyame, the sky god, owned all stories. He kept them in a magnificent chest, woven from light and dreams. He kept them in...his Story Box.”
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
It added that millions of women share health stories on the platform, including with hashtags like #Period and #Endometriosis.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
The documentary format allows them to tell stories about monsters that aren’t imagined.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026
As with age-related merchandise at the drugstore, the stories are available to anyone, but they will have special application for those who have reached what the excessively tactful used to call “a certain age.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
Investors view Lilly, a favorite for its dominance in the GLP-1 market, as one of the industry’s greatest success stories.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026
“I don’t care how good those stories are,” I said.
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
Although the final sale price came in well below Paul’s original nearly $10 million asking price, the transaction officially closes the chapter on the actor’s ownership of one of Los Angeles’ most storied celebrity homes.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026
But having read “Shop Different,” it’s easy to understand why a Midwestern kid who was dazzled by department stores might want to take a chance on one of America’s most storied 20th-century retail brands.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
Confront your haters: Speaking of human relationships in the digital age, staff writer Luke Winkie recently went on a deep dive into Slate’s storied comment section.
From Slate ● Sep. 30, 2026
Interest in the ruling has been high among voice actors in Japan, who worry AI mimicry of the tool of their trade will go a long way toward the decline of the storied industry.
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
I have never spoken this many words in a row to Margo in our long and storied relationship, but here it is, my last play for her.
From "Paper Towns" by John Green
I mean this book doesn't do a lot of war storying.
From The New Yorker ● Oct. 17, 2018
Behold now! of my godhead I will make Thy senses burn with vision, storying The spirit of woman growing from loved to love.
From Emblems Of Love by Lascelles Abercrombie
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
