narrative
NAR-uh-tihv
Narrative (noun) means a spoken or written account of connected events; a story. Example: “Her narrative of the journey made the whole room laugh out loud.”
noun
1
A spoken or written account of connected events; a story.
"Her narrative of the journey made the whole room laugh out loud."
"The novel weaves together three separate narratives."
"The politician's narrative didn't match the leaked documents."
adj
1
Relating to storytelling, or having the form of a story.
"She has a gift for narrative writing and loves telling long stories."
"The museum used a narrative approach to explain the town's history."
"The film uses a non-linear narrative structure."
How to use narrative
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA story, or the way a story or set of events is told and framed.
Common mistake
In modern usage "narrative" often means a persuasive framing of events (e.g. "the official narrative"), not just a plain story.
Common pairings
personal narrative
narrative structure
push a narrative
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like narrative.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- narratives
- Comparative
- more narrative
- Superlative
- most narrative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her _____ of the journey made the whole room laugh out loud.
Etymology
From Middle French narratif, from Latin narrativus, ultimately from narrare, "to narrate".
Related words
Rhymes for narrative
See all rhymes for narrative →Frequently asked questions
What does “narrative” mean?
The word “narrative” means a spoken or written account of connected events; a story. In plain terms, a story, or the way a story or set of events is told and framed.
How do you pronounce “narrative”?
“Narrative” is pronounced NAR-uh-tihv (/ˈnæɹ.ə.tɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “narrative” in a sentence?
Here is “narrative” used in a sentence: “The novel weaves together three separate narratives.”
What part of speech is “narrative”?
Depending on how it is used, “narrative” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “narrative” come from?
The word “narrative” comes from Latin. From Middle French narratif, from Latin narrativus, ultimately from narrare, "to narrate".
Is “narrative” a common word?
“Narrative” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “narrative” have?
“Narrative” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a spoken or written account of connected events; a story.
What is the difference between narrative and story?
Both refer to an account of connected events, but "story" is the everyday word while "narrative" is more formal and emphasises how the events are connected and presented. "Narrative" is preferred in academic, literary, and journalistic contexts, and it can also refer to the framing of real events rather than fiction.
What is the difference between narrative and narration?
A narrative is the account or story itself, the connected sequence of events. Narration is the act or process of telling it, and in film and television it also names the voiceover that tells the story. So a novel contains a narrative, delivered through its narration.
When is narrative used as an adjective?
As an adjective, "narrative" means relating to storytelling or having the form of a story. It appears in phrases such as narrative structure, narrative poem, narrative arc, and narrative nonfiction, all describing works or techniques built around telling a story.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include narrative:
