In a narrative or creative writing, a plot is the sequence of events that make up a story, whether it’s told, written, filmed, or sung. The plot is the story, and more specifically, how the story develops, unfolds, and moves in time.

Plot is the sequence of interconnected events within the story of a play, novel, film, epic, or other narrative literary work. More than simply an account of what happened, plot reveals the cause-and-effect relationships between the events that occur. Some additional key details about plot:

The term plot can also serve as a verb, as part of the craft of writing, referring to the writer devising and ordering story events. (A related meaning is a character's planning of future actions in the story.)

plot, intrigue, machination, conspiracy, cabal mean a plan secretly devised to accomplish an evil or treacherous end. plot implies careful foresight in planning a complex scheme.

Plot is a literary term used to describe the events that make up a story, following the formula arc of beginning, middle, and end.

Plot is a series of events in a story in which the main character is put into a challenging situation that forces a character to make increasingly difficult choices, driving the story toward a …

Plot definition: a secret plan or scheme to accomplish some purpose, especially a hostile, unlawful, or evil purpose.. See examples of PLOT used in a sentence.

PLOT definition: 1. the story of a book, film, play, etc.: 2. a secret plan made by several people to do something…. Learn more.

Jul 20, 2025 · plot (plural plots) (narratology) The course of a story, comprising a series of incidents which are gradually unfolded, sometimes by unexpected means. [from 1640s] Synonym: storyline

What is plot? We break down the full plot definition to help you analyze the narrative of any story.