storytelling
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of storytelling
Explanation
Storytelling is the art of weaving words into captivating tales, bringing characters and events to life in the minds of an audience of listeners or readers. Whether in ancient myths, bedtime stories, historical accounts, popular novels, or modern movies, effective storytelling can capture our attention by creating vivid mental images and emotional connections. Throughout human history, storytelling has provided a means of passing on knowledge, culture, and values. It can help us understand different perspectives, build empathy, and activate our own imaginations. Storytelling is a fundamental part of the human experience.
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.
But you don’t have to wholly buy into the idea of a character like Sonny to find something intriguing about what Adeline is saying about storytelling throughout “People Watching.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
This is how Greek audiences in the fourth and fifth centuries BC enjoyed the aural delivery of poems shaped by a long tradition of oral storytelling.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
Each place must now show how they would use culture to celebrate their town, showcase original storytelling and empower their local communities, as well as attract further investment and visitors.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
These creators are producing videos to reach the audiences abandoning broadcast news while racking up millions of views online and winning awards for innovative storytelling.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
While each episode is a self-contained narrative designed to illuminate one propitious moment with as much storytelling skill as I can muster, taken together they feature several common themes.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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.
