story
/ˈstɔː.ɹi/
The primary sense centers on narrative sequence. It evokes a feeling of progression—a beginning, middle, and end—regardless of whether the content is factual or fictional. Unlike 'report' or 'account', a "story" usually implies a certain emotional arc or an attempt to engage the listener. In journalism, it shifts toward a specific unit of news. Here, the connotation is more professional and transactional, referring to a discrete piece of reporting rather than a long-form narrative. When referring to architecture, the word describes verticality and layering. It is used interchangeably with 'floor' in North American English, though 'storey' is preferred in British English. The mental image is one of stacked levels.
Countable when referring to a narrative or a building floor (one story, two stories). Uncountable when referring to the general concept of storytelling or narrative art.
💬Casual Conversation
Your mom says you're stressed. What's the story?
Just adulting. I'm literally drowning in finals.
Meanings
Collocations & Compounds
bedtime story
A tale told to a child to help them fall asleep.
cover story
The main article in a magazine, often accompanied by an image on the front cover.
short story
A brief work of fictional narrative prose.
multi-story building
A structure consisting of several floors or levels.
lead story
The most important news item in a broadcast or publication.
Idioms & Sayings
a story in both directions
A narrative that considers multiple perspectives or outcomes.
the story of my life
An expression used to describe a typical, often unlucky, experience for the speaker.
a tall story
A story that is unlikely to be true; an exaggeration.
to make a long story short
To omit tedious details and get to the point of a narrative.
Etymology
Derived from the Middle English 'storie', originating from the Old French 'estorie' (meaning 'history, narrative'), which comes from the Latin 'historia' and ultimately from the Greek 'historía' ('inquiry, account'). The sense referring to a floor of a building is likely a result of phonetic convergence with 'storey', possibly influenced by the concept of levels in a narrative or architectural layers.