narrative

/ˈnɛrədɪv/

/ˈnærɪtɪv/

Other forms: narratives; narratively

A narrative is a story that you write or tell to someone, usually in great detail. A narrative can be a work of poetry or prose, or even song, theater, or dance.

Often a narrative is meant to include the "whole story." A summary will give a few key details and then the narrative will delve into the details. "I hate to interrupt your narrative," is a polite way of stopping someone in the middle of a story. The origin of this noun is the Latin adjective narrativus, from narrare "to tell," from gnarus "knowing." It is related to our English verb know.

Definitions of narrative

1. noun

   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
   “his narrative was interesting”

   synonyms: narration, story, tale

   examples:

   Canterbury Tales

   an uncompleted series of tales written after 1387 by Geoffrey Chaucer

   types:

   tearjerker

   an excessively sentimental narrative

   tall tale

   an improbable (unusual or incredible or fanciful) story

   folk tale, folktale

   a tale circulated by word of mouth among the common folk

   sob story, sob stuff

   a sentimental story (or drama) of personal distress; designed to arouse sympathy

   fairy story, fairy tale, fairytale

   a children's story involving imaginary, magical or fantastical beings or elements

   nursery rhyme

   a tale in rhymed verse for children

   type of:

   content, message, subject matter, substance

   what a communication that is about something is about
2. adjective

   consisting of or characterized by the telling of a story
   “narrative poetry”

   synonyms:

   communicative, communicatory

   able or tending to communicate