story

story — noun

1. A series of connected events and characters, whether real or imaginary, that som

1.nounA2
Definition

A series of connected events and characters, whether real or imaginary, that someone tells or writes to amuse, inform, or hold a listener's or reader's attention.

Example

Rodrigo told his little sister a funny story about a talking dog before she fell asleep.

tell + someone + a story + about

The old oak tree seemed to have a story to tell about every couple that sat beneath it.

have a story to tell (personified subject)

Common collocations
  • tell a story
  • write a story
  • read a story
  • short story
  • true story
  • love story
  • ghost story
  • children's story
  • favourite story
Synonyms
  • tale

    Often suggests a traditional or folk narrative; slightly more literary than 'story'.

  • account

    Focuses on factual reporting of events; less imaginative than 'story'.

  • narrative

    More formal; describes the structured telling of events in writing or speech.

Grammar Patterns

a story about [topic]

the story of [someone/something]

Common Mistakes

She read me a history before bed.
She read me a story before bed.
'history' refers to the study of past events, not a narrative meant to entertain.
The tale of the book is hard to follow.
The story of the book is hard to follow.
'tale' often suggests a folk or fairy story, while 'story' is the general term for any narrative.

2. An article or broadcast that presents facts about a recent event, typically foun

2.nounB1
Definition

An article or broadcast that presents facts about a recent event, typically found in a newspaper, shown on TV, or posted on a news website.

Example

The local newspaper ran a front-page story about the fire at the old train station.

run a front-page story about [event]

Femi saw the story about the election results on the evening news broadcast.

see a story on the news

Common collocations
  • news story
  • front-page story
  • cover story
  • run a story
  • break a story
  • cover story
  • follow-up story
Synonyms
  • report

    More formal than 'story'; used for official or detailed accounts of events.

  • article

    A general piece of writing in a publication; may be opinion-based rather than factual.

Grammar Patterns

a story about [event]

the story of [event]

Usage Note

Frequently paired with newspaper-related adjectives such as 'front-page', 'breaking', 'cover', and 'top' to indicate the importance or placement of the report.

Common Mistakes

The newspaper printed an article about the event.' (when 'story' would be more natural).
The newspaper printed a story about the event.
'story' is the standard word for a news report; 'article' is more general.

3. Something that someone says that is not true, used when the speaker does not bel

3.nounB1
Definition

Something that someone says that is not true, used when the speaker does not believe the explanation or excuse being offered.

Example

The boy told a story about a giant monster that ate his homework, but the teacher did not believe him.

tell a story (informal: make an excuse)

Rachid knew his friend was telling a story when he claimed to have met a famous actor at the supermarket.

telling a story (informal for lying)

Common collocations
  • tall story
  • a likely story
  • tell stories
  • that's a story
Synonyms
  • lie

    Direct and neutral; 'story' is softer and more colloquial.

  • fib

    A small, harmless lie; lighter in tone than 'story'.

  • tall tale

    An exaggerated or unbelievable story told as if it were true.

Antonyms
  • truth

    Factual account of what really happened.

Grammar Patterns

tell a story (meaning tell a lie)

Usage Note

Informal register. Commonly appears in fixed expressions such as 'a likely story' or 'telling stories'. Not appropriate in formal or academic writing.

Common Mistakes

She told him a story about where she had been.' (intended as lie but ambiguous).
She told him a story about where she had been.' in context: 'She told him a story about where she had been, but he knew she was lying.
the meaning relies on context to distinguish from Sense 1.

4. Each horizontal section of a building that contains the rooms on a single floor

4.nounB1
Definition

Each horizontal section of a building that contains the rooms on a single floor surface, from the ground up to the roof.

Example

Their apartment is on the third story of the old brick building near the river.

on the [ordinal] story of [building]

The library has a quiet reading room on the top story with large windows and a river view.

Common collocations
  • top story
  • lower story
  • upper story
  • first story
  • second story
  • multi-story
  • single-story
Synonyms
  • floor

    More common in everyday speech; 'story' is more technical and used for describing building structure.

  • level

    Neutral term that works for both buildings and underground spaces.

Grammar Patterns

on the [number] story

top story

lower story

Usage Note

Spelled 'storey' in British English; 'story' is the American English spelling for this meaning. Both are pronounced identically. A 'multi-story building' has several floors.

Common Mistakes

The building has twenty storeys.' (correct in British English but not in American).
The building has twenty stories.' (American English) or 'The building has twenty storeys.' (British English)
choose based on your audience.
Idioms

(to) cut a long story short

idiom

Used to say that you will give only the main point of what happened, without including all the details.

To cut a long story short, we missed the flight but got a refund and booked a different one.

Benjamin tried to explain what happened, but his father told him to cut a long story short and just give the facts.

the (same) old story

idiom

Used to describe a situation or problem that has happened many times before and is therefore familiar or predictable.

It is the same old story — the team trained hard all season but lost the final match by one point.

Piotr looked at the empty wallet and sighed, recognizing the old story of spending too much too quickly.

a likely story

idiom

Said to show that you do not believe what someone has said, often in a joking or sarcastic way.

When Ezra said he had finished all his chores in five minutes, his mother laughed and said, 'A likely story!'

The student claimed the dog ate his homework, but the teacher just smiled and called it a likely story.

the story goes (that)...

idiom

Used to introduce something that people say happened, especially when the exact truth is uncertain.

The story goes that the old lighthouse was built by a sea captain who wanted to guide his lost ship home.

tell a different story

idiom

To give information or evidence that differs from what one might expect or from what has been claimed.

The company said business was going well, but the falling sales numbers told a different story.

that's the story of my life

idiom

An expression used when a bad experience happens to you and you feel that similar things always happen to you.

I arrived at the bus stop just as the bus was pulling away — that's the story of my life!

(to cut a) long story short

idiom

Used to introduce a quick summary of a longer event, skipping unnecessary details.

To cut a long story short, we missed the last train home.

Long story short, Sara quit her job and moved to Japan.

pitch a story/line/yarn (to somebody)

idiom

To tell someone a false story or excuse, often to persuade or deceive them.

Diego pitched a story about his car breaking down.

Maya pitched a line to her boss about being sick.

the story goes (that)… | so the story goes

idiom

Used to report what people say, even if it may not be true.

The story goes that the treasure is buried under the old oak tree.

So the story goes, the ghost appears only on full moons.

tell a different story/tale

idiom

To provide information that contradicts what was expected or previously stated.

The official report says one thing, but the photos tell a different story.

Her calm voice told a different tale than her trembling hands.

tell its own tale/story

idiom

To be so clear that no further explanation is needed.

The empty fridge told its own story about their finances.

His dirty clothes told their own tale of a long hike.

that’s the story of my life

idiom

Used to express that a bad experience is typical for you, as if it happens often.

I missed the bus again—that's the story of my life.

My phone died right when I needed it—that's the story of my life.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Story is the broadest and most common word for a description of events, whether real or imagined. Tale often suggests an older, traditional, or folk narrative and carries a slightly literary or fantastic tone — one might tell a fairy tale but not a 'news tale'. Account emphasises factual reporting and is used when the speaker wants to stress truthfulness and detail, as in 'a witness's account of the accident'. Narrative is the most formal of the four; it refers to the structured telling of a sequence of events, often in literature, film, or historical writing. In everyday conversation, story is the natural choice ('Tell me a story'), while narrative appears more in academic or critical discussion ('the film's narrative structure'). An account gives facts, a tale adds colour, a narrative organises, and a story does all three in the most accessible way.

story ↗tale ↗account ↗narrative ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • the story of [someone/something]
  • a story about [topic]

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'story' entered Middle English from Old French 'estorie', which came from Latin 'historia' meaning 'narrative, account, or history'. The sense referring to a level or floor of a building (sense 4) has a separate origin: it comes from Medieval Latin 'historia' meaning 'a row of windows' or 'a tier of pictures on a building', likely because the windows or decorative illustrations on building facades told visual stories. Over time, 'historia' came to refer to the whole level of a building. The two meanings converged in English spelling, but British English later adopted 'storey' for the building sense to distinguish them.