narrative
gb/nˈɛɹɪtɪv/ us/nˈɛɹɪtɪv/
B2
English
~ 8200
elbeszélés, történet, narratíva, uralkodó narratíva, elbeszélésmód, elbeszéléstechnika, elbeszélő, narratív, szöveges
NOUN
B2
1
elbeszélés
B1
történet
A1
Usage pattern:
a narrative about [something]
The film follows the narrative of a young musician trying to make it in the city.
A film egy fiatal zenész történetét követi, aki próbál boldogulni a nagyvárosban.
Her novel weaves several narratives into one powerful story.
A regénye több történetszálat fon össze egyetlen hatásos történetté.
The documentary offers a clear narrative of how the crisis began.
The book’s fragmented narrative can be confusing at first.
He shared a heartfelt narrative of his childhood during the interview.
Learner examples
The teacher asked us to write a short narrative.
A tanár arra kért minket, hogy írjunk egy rövid elbeszélést.
This movie has a simple narrative about a family trip.
A filmnek egyszerű története van: egy családi kirándulásról szól.
The book’s narrative is easy to follow.
She told a long narrative about her time in Spain.
I like stories with a strong narrative and clear ending.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'narrative' only means a made-up story. It can describe both true and invented stories, as long as events are told in an ordered, connected way. They may also confuse 'narrative' (the story) with 'narrator' (the person who tells the story).
Meaning
story or account of events
Collocations
coherent narrative
|personal narrative
|historical narrative
|linear narrative
|fictional narrative
|narrative structure
Synonyms
story (More common and general; often sounds less formal than 'narrative'.)
|
account (Can sound more factual or report-like and less artistic than 'narrative'.)
Antonyms
list (A list shows separate items without connecting them into a flowing story.)
Themes
art
|media
|communication
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A story or description of things that happen, told or written in order.
A spoken or written account that describes a series of connected events, either real or fictional, usually with a beginning, middle, and end.
NOUN
C1
2
narratíva
C1
Usage pattern:
the narrative that [clause]
The government is trying to change the narrative around immigration.
A kormány igyekszik megváltoztatni a bevándorlásról szóló narratívát.
News channels often compete to control the narrative after a major event.
A hírcsatornák egy-egy nagyobb esemény után gyakran versengenek azért, hogy ők uralják a narratívát.
Her book challenges the traditional narrative of the war.
Social media has made it easier for ordinary people to shape the narrative.
The dominant narrative overlooks the experiences of smaller communities.
Learner examples
Some leaders try to control the narrative in the news.
Egyes vezetők megpróbálják uralni a hírekben megjelenő narratívát.
The movie gives a new narrative about life in the city.
A film új narratívát kínál a városi életről.
Many people believed the narrative that the company was in trouble.
He wants to change the narrative about young people in his town.
The article questions the common narrative about the crisis.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with a simple 'story' about one person or event. In this sense, 'narrative' is broader: it is the usual way people talk about and understand a situation, especially in public discussion. It is often used with words like 'political', 'media', 'dominant', and 'official'.
Meaning
dominant explanation or storyline
Collocations
political narrative
|media narrative
|dominant narrative
|official narrative
|control the narrative
|challenge the narrative
Synonyms
storyline (Can be used similarly but is less tied to politics and public debate than 'narrative'.)
|
spin (Informal; suggests a biased or manipulative narrative, often used about politicians and media.)
Antonyms
reality (Used when people feel that the accepted narrative does not match what is actually happening.)
Themes
politics
|media
|society
|communication
Definition
A common story or idea that many people use to explain what is happening, especially in news and politics.
A particular way of explaining and connecting events that becomes widely accepted, especially in politics, media, or public debate.
NOUN
C1
LITERARY
3
Usage pattern:
the narrative of [a book / a film]
The novel’s shifting narrative keeps the reader slightly off balance.
A regény váltakozó elbeszélésmódja kissé elbizonytalanítja az olvasót.
In this course, we will analyze the narrative of several classic films.
Ezen a kurzuson több klasszikus film elbeszélésmódját fogjuk elemezni.
The author experiments with a fragmented narrative to reflect the character’s mind.
Her use of first-person narrative creates a strong sense of intimacy.
The director chose a nonlinear narrative to reveal key information slowly.
Learner examples
The book uses a first-person narrative.
A könyv egyes szám első személyű elbeszélésmódot használ.
We studied the narrative of this short story in class.
Az órán ennek a novellának az elbeszélésmódját tanulmányoztuk.
The film’s narrative is not in time order.
The writer changes the narrative to show another character’s view.
Good writers think carefully about narrative and characters.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'narrative' when they mean 'plot'. 'Plot' is the sequence of events that happen, while this sense of 'narrative' is about how those events are told (voice, order, point of view, and style).
Meaning
storytelling style or structure
Collocations
narrative voice
|narrative technique
|narrative perspective
|narrative structure
|first-person narrative
|nonlinear narrative
Synonyms
storytelling (Focuses more on the act or art of telling stories, while 'narrative' can stress the structure and technical choices.)
Antonyms
description (A description gives details but may not have the structured, time-based flow that a narrative has.)
Themes
art
|education
|media
|arts_entertainment
|communication
Definition
The way a story is told, including who tells it, the order of events, and the style of writing.
The overall structure, voice, and technique used to tell a story in literature, film, or other media.
C1
4
Usage pattern:
narrative [noun]
Students were asked to write a narrative essay about a childhood memory.
A diákoknak elbeszélő fogalmazást kellett írniuk egy gyerekkori emlékükről.
The doctor included a short narrative note to explain the test results.
Az orvos egy rövid szöveges megjegyzést is mellékelt, hogy megmagyarázza a vizsgálati eredményeket.
The report combines narrative sections with charts and tables.
Narrative data can show how people experience illness in daily life.
Her research uses both narrative and quantitative methods.
Learner examples
He prefers narrative books to textbooks.
Inkább az elbeszélő jellegű könyveket szereti, mint a tankönyveket.
We had to write a narrative essay for homework.
Házi feladatként elbeszélő fogalmazást kellett írnunk.
The nurse wrote a brief narrative report about the patient.
This article is not technical; it is more narrative.
Narrative texts tell a story with characters and events.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'narrative' as an adjective only relates to novels or stories. In academic and professional contexts, it is also used for reports, reviews, or data presented in story form instead of as numbers or bullet points.
Meaning
in story form; story-like
Collocations
narrative text
|narrative style
|narrative form
|narrative report
|narrative review
|narrative essay
Synonyms
story-like (Informal; clearly shows the idea of being similar to a story.)
Antonyms
statistical (Describes information given as numbers rather than as a story.)
Themes
education
|media
|science
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Telling things as a story with events in order, not just as short facts or numbers.
Describing something that tells or explains events in the form of a story, rather than as separate facts or numbers.
Grammar
Dictionary form
narrative
IPA
GB/nˈɛɹɪtɪv/
US/nˈɛɹɪtɪv/
Syllables & stress
nar - rat - ive (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (nar)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: narrative
Noun
- Base: narrative
- Plural: narrative, narratives
Word family
Forms
narratives
noun
Related words
story
noun A1
storyteller
noun B1
Expressions
change the narrative
1/t͡ʃˈeɪnd͡ʒ ðə nˈɛɹɪtɪv/
fixed phrase
replace the usual storyline
To make people see and talk about a situation in a new way, not the old usual way.
Examples
- Her success helped change the narrative about women in tech.
- The coach said the team wanted to change the narrative after last year’s loss.
control the narrative
1/kəntɹˈoʊl ðə nˈɛɹɪtɪv/
fixed phrase
dominate how events are explained
To make sure that your version of events is the one most people hear and believe.
Examples
- The company rushed to issue a statement to control the narrative after the leak.
- Activists used social media to control the narrative about the protest.
counter-narrative
1/kˈaʊntɚ nˈɛɹɪtɪv/
fixed phrase
story that opposes main story
A different story or explanation that goes against what most people usually hear.
Examples
- The film offers a powerful counter-narrative to official reports.
- Community leaders are creating a counter-narrative about life in the neighborhood.
create a narrative
1/kɹiˈeɪt ə nˈɛɹɪtɪv/
fixed phrase
build a story or explanation
To put events together into a story or explanation that people can follow.
Examples
- The ad campaign tries to create a narrative of trust and tradition.
- Journalists helped create a narrative around the young athlete’s rise to fame.
dominant narrative
1/dˈɑmənənt nˈɛɹɪtɪv/
fixed phrase
most accepted public storyline
The story or explanation that most people know and accept about a situation.
Examples
- The dominant narrative ignores the role of smaller countries.
- Her research questions the dominant narrative about the city’s history.
fit the narrative
1/fˈɪt ðə nˈɛɹɪtɪv/
fixed phrase
match the usual storyline
To match or support the usual story people tell about a situation.
Examples
- They left out details that didn’t fit the narrative.
- Her experience does not fit the narrative we usually hear in the media.
narrative voice
1/nˈɛɹɪtɪv vˈɔɪs/
fixed phrase
literary
voice that tells the story
The style and personality of the voice that tells the story in a book or film.
Examples
- The novel’s narrative voice is funny and informal.
- Students analyzed how the narrative voice changes in the second chapter.
shape the narrative
1/ʃˈeɪp ðə nˈɛɹɪtɪv/
fixed phrase
influence how a story is told
To slowly influence how people talk about and understand a situation.
Examples
- Over time, the film helped shape the narrative about the conflict.
- Interest groups are working hard to shape the narrative before the election.
stick to the narrative
1/stˈɪk tə ðə nˈɛɹɪtɪv/
fixed phrase
keep to agreed storyline
To keep saying the same story or explanation and not change it.
Examples
- The spokesperson stuck to the narrative during the entire press conference.
- Even when challenged, he tried to stick to the narrative they had planned.
narrative arc
1/nˈɛɹɪtɪv ˈɑɹk/
fixed phrase
overall shape of a story
The way a story grows and changes from the start, through the main problem, to the end.
Examples
- The documentary has a clear narrative arc from crisis to resolution.
- The series has a strong narrative arc across all ten episodes.
- We analyzed the narrative arc of the novel in class.
- Writers often draw a simple curve to plan the narrative arc of their story.
- A good narrative arc usually has a beginning, a middle, and an end.