Narrative

//ˈnæɹətɪv// adj, noun

adj, noun ·Moderate ·High school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The systematic recitation of an event or series of events. countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program wordnet
  3. 3
    That which is narrated. countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    A representation of an event or story in a way to promote a certain point of view. countable, uncountable

    "changing, controlling the narrative"

  5. 5
    A manner of conveying a story, fictional or otherwise, in a body of work. countable, uncountable

    "The plot is full of holes, but the narrative is extremely compelling."

Adjective
  1. 1
    Telling a story.
  2. 2
    Overly talkative; garrulous.

    "But wise through time, and narrative with age."

  3. 3
    Of or relating to narration.

    "the narrative thrust of a film"

Adjective
  1. 1
    consisting of or characterized by the telling of a story wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
accountalcaicanacreonticanecdotageanecdotalanecdote

Example

More examples

"That is not what the narrative is about."

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle Scots narrative, nerrative, from Middle French narratif, from Latin narrātīvus, from narrō (“to narrate”).

Related phrases

grand narrativegrounded narrative inquirynarrative arcnarrative artnarrative hooknarrative presentnarrative structurenarrative verdictself-narrativesequential art narrative

More for "narrative"

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Next best steps

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.