Language Research

story · noun C

/ˈstɔːr.i/Full view

story (DESCRIPTION)

A2 a description of a series of real or imaginary events that is intended to entertain people

Dictionary examples:

Will you read/tell me a story, daddy?

Martha asked me to read to her from her favorite book of bedtime stories.

He writes children's stories.

I don't know if it's true but it's a good story.

Learner example:

I want to sell an English book called "Cats and Dogs". There [are] lots of different and funny stories in it. (Key English Test; A2; Russian)

story (BUILDING)

B2 a level of a building

Dictionary examples:

a three-story house

She lived on the third floor of a seven-story building.

Learner example:

It is a one-story building in [the] Russian style with one, rather small, room with a bar and 10 tables. (First Certificate in English; B2; Russian)

story (REPORT)

B2 a report in a newspaper or on a news broadcast of something that has happened

Dictionary example:

The main story in the papers today is the president's speech.

Learner example:

If someone famous goes to a pub, he should be careful what he drinks, because he could find an interesting story about his alcoholism in [the] newspapers tomorrow. (First Certificate in English; B2; Czech)

to make a long story short

C1 to mention only the final result or point of something without going into other details

Dictionary example:

To make a long story short, he never played baseball again.

Learner example:

To make a long story short, my mother turned out to be an understanding person. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Spanish)

story (EXPLANATION)

C2 an explanation of why something happened, which may not be true

Dictionary example:

Did he tell you the same story about why he was late?

Learner example:

Susan repeated the same story three or four times: Jason had come from work at 5 o'clock and she had gone to the grocer's to get some potatoes for dinner. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Spanish)