story
gb/stˈɔɹi/ us/stˈɔɹi/
A1
English
~ 600
történet, hír, cikk, tudósítás, magyarázat, kifogás, emelet, szint
NOUN
A1
1
történet
A2
Usage pattern:
a story about [something/someone]
She told me a funny story about her childhood.
Elmesélt nekem egy vicces történetet a gyerekkoráról.
The movie is based on a true story.
A film igaz történeten alapul.
He wrote a short story for the school magazine.
That news story shocked the entire community.
Each chapter adds more detail to the ongoing story.
Learner examples
I read a story before bed.
Lefekvés előtt olvastam egy történetet.
My grandfather told me a story.
A nagyapám mesélt nekem egy történetet.
This is a true story.
She wrote a story about a cat.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'story' with 'history'. 'Story' can be fictional; 'history' refers to real past events.
Meaning
account of events
Collocations
tell a story
|short story
|true story
|fictional story
|story unfolds
Synonyms
tale (Often more literary or old-fashioned, but similar in meaning.)
Antonyms
fact (A fact is a single piece of true information, not a narrative.)
Themes
literature
|media
|daily life
|arts_entertainment
|communication
Definition
A talk or text about things that happened, real or not, often to entertain or inform.
A description of real or imaginary events told for entertainment, information, or to explain something.
NOUN
A2
2
Usage pattern:
a news story about [something]
The newspaper ran a story on climate change.
Az újság közölt egy cikket az éghajlatváltozásról.
She covered the story for the local TV station.
A helyi tévécsatornának tudósított az ügyről.
That was the lead story on the evening news.
Journalists are competing to break the story.
The magazine featured a story about new technology.
Learner examples
I read a story in the paper.
Olvastam egy cikket az újságban.
The TV had a story about the storm.
A tévében volt egy hír a viharról.
They wrote a story about the school play.
Meaning
news article or report
Collocations
cover a story
|break a story
|feature story
|news story
Synonyms
report (A general term for giving information; not always in narrative form.)
Antonyms
silence (No coverage or reporting of an event.)
Themes
media
|journalism
|communication
|education
Definition
A report in a newspaper, on TV, or online about something that happened.
A piece of news or a report published in media about recent events.
NOUN
B1
3
magyarázat
B1
kifogás
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s story is that [clause]
His story was that he missed the bus.
Az volt a magyarázata, hogy lekéste a buszt.
The police didn’t believe her story.
A rendőrség nem hitte el a magyarázatát.
He kept changing his story during the interview.
She stuck to her story despite the evidence.
I don't buy his story for a second.
Learner examples
His story is that he was at home.
A magyarázata szerint otthon volt.
I don't believe her story.
Nem hiszem el a magyarázatát.
She changed her story many times.
Meaning
personal account or excuse
Collocations
stick to your story
|buy someone's story
|change your story
Synonyms
account (A more neutral term without implying fiction or excuse.)
Antonyms
truth (The actual facts without alteration or fabrication.)
Themes
daily life
|communication
|relationships
Definition
What someone says happened, often to explain why they did something.
An account someone gives of what happened, especially to explain their actions or as an excuse.
NOUN
A2
4
Usage pattern:
a [number]-story building
They live on the third story of the apartment block.
A lakóház harmadik emeletén laknak.
The fire spread quickly to the upper stories of the building.
A tűz gyorsan átterjedt az épület felső emeleteire.
It's a five-story office tower.
The top story has the best view.
Learner examples
My room is on the second story.
A szobám a második emeleten van.
It is a three-story house.
Ez egy háromszintes ház.
The top story has big windows.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'story' with 'storey' (British spelling); same meaning, different spelling.
Meaning
floor of a building
Collocations
two-story house
|high-story building
Synonyms
floor (Common synonym; 'story' is used more in American English for building levels.)
Antonyms
basement (A level below ground, not above.)
Themes
architecture
|daily life
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Definition
One floor of a building.
A level of a building above ground level.
Grammar
Dictionary form
story
IPA
GB/stˈɔɹi/
US/stˈɔɹi/
Syllables & stress
story (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (story)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: story
- Plural: stories
Word family
Forms
stories
noun
Core family
storyteller
noun B1
storytelling
noun
Related words
storyline
noun
storybook
noun
backstory
noun
Expressions
cut a long story short
1/kˈʌt ə lˈɔŋ stˈɔɹi ʃˈɔɹt/
idiom
summarize briefly
To tell something quickly without all the details.
Examples
- To cut a long story short, we missed our flight and had to drive instead.
- He cut a long story short and told us they got married.
end of story
1/ˈɛnd əv stˈɔɹi/
fixed phrase
informal
no more discussion needed
Used to say there is nothing more to say about something.
Examples
- You’re not going to the party. End of story.
- We don’t have enough money—end of story.
make up a story
1/mˈeɪk ˈʌp ə stˈɔɹi/
fixed phrase
invent false events account
To create something that did not happen, usually to trick people or entertain them.
Examples
- She made up a story about why she was late.
- He likes to make up stories for his children.
the story of [someone/something's] life
1/ðə stˈɔɹi əv sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋz lˈaɪf/
fixed phrase
typical life experience summary
Used to say that something happens often to someone, usually something unlucky or disappointing.
Examples
- I missed the bus again—that’s the story of my life.
- Always getting caught in the rain—story of my life.