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.
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.
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.
Joseph, 1779–1845, U.S. jurist.
William Wetmore 1819–95, U.S. sculptor and poet.
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
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
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
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."
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Prince-Bythewood gushed about loving the book, the story and the characters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
Leon Botstein’s conducting of the American Symphony Orchestra was relentlessly loud and unsubtle, missing opportunities for shaping and transparency in what is ultimately a love story.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
"That has at least been a part of the calculus of why Mexican cartels have escalated their operations in Africa. That to say though, it is only part of the story," said Griego.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
FIFA's statement was a rapid response to a story in British newspapers The Times and The Financial Times based on leaks of the plan from two sources.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
And while there is a good reason for that—a story that dates back to the night of his undeath—it is not my tale to tell.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
In cinemas, the film's global takings include £12.6m from the UK - making it the second-biggest opening weekend in the country so far this year, behind Toy Story 5.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Disney's "Toy Story 5" fell to fourth place in its fifth week, with an estimated domestic weekend take of $13 million, for a global total of nearly $958 million.
From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 2026
This fundamental contradiction—Shanghai as the birthplace of Chinese communism and also the center of the country’s capitalist development—lies at the heart of Michael Dillon’s “Shanghai: The Story of China’s Most Dynamic City.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
And if that’s not quite your thing, here’s what Slate critics thought of several other movies that are still playing in theaters: The Invite, Supergirl, Minions & Monsters, Toy Story 5, Disclosure Day, and Obsession.
From Slate ● Jul. 17, 2026
As the words zipped out of my mouth, the silver Story Box flared so bright my eyes hurt.
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
She watched the 20-year-old Roper identical twins provide one of Wales' stories of Glasgow so far in winning bronze medals within a couple of hours of each other.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
Rowling is one of Europe’s wealthiest women because millions of families value her stories more than the cost of her books.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Several chapters are devoted to Kip’s stories of defusing bombs and saving English lives, all aided by Lord Suffolk’s encouragement.
From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026
I had long admired her, especially the rollicking and indispensable “Slow Days, Fast Company,” first published in 1977, a charming and insightful series of stories bursting with pluck and sass.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
I remind Arlo about all the stories Dad has told us about growing up in Chicago.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
The broad overperformance, however, came as Ford notched another loss and revenue drop for its ailing EV business, and leaned on its storied pickup trucks to limit a year-over-year sales drop.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
Hospitality veteran Clemens Keller insists that Vienna's storied "heuriger" winemakers' taverns -- which face a hangover-inducing brew of real estate speculation, spiralling costs and climate change -- cannot rely on their illustrious past.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
Morishita, who will turn 78 in December, is the prima ballerina in Japan’s storied Matsuyama Ballet Company.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
Hollywood’s storied Cinerama Dome will soon be open for business again.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 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 Abercrombie, Lascelles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
