How to Use backstory in a Sentence

backstory

noun
Definition of backstorynext
  • So, then the challenge of all of that is that there is the internals of the characters and the backstory, and the externals.
    — Demetrius Patterson, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 May 2024
  • With not a scrap of backstory required, this immensely satisfying vignette earns the film an early round of cheers.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 May 2024
  • The backstory: No one knows what the people who invented the Royal Game of Ur called it.
    — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 16 July 2024
  • And the cast of characters, each with a knotty backstory, creates a tapestry of narratives that can only be glimpsed in passing.
    — Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2024
  • Presumably, the character will reveal more layers and maybe a backstory in Chapter Two.
    — David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 May 2024
  • History rendered its judgement a long time ago on Coppola’s war movie, and its rapturous reception at the fest has become a key part of its backstory.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 May 2024
  • The nihilistic randomness of the violence is what makes the film connect on a visceral level; to give them a backstory, or even real names, would be to go against the premise’s central appeal.
    — Michael Nordine, Variety, 16 May 2024
  • Markowski, who grew up in the Greenpoint neighborhood in Brooklyn, is also proud that her personal backstory has resonated with viewers of the show.
    — Erin Clements, Peoplemag, 18 July 2024
  • The backstory behind her appearance is never explained in that movie, so when its prequel, Furiosa, was announced, fans were champing at the bit to know if that part of her origin story would be explored.
    — Lauren Huff, EW.com, 24 May 2024
  • Shetty’s backstory with the plane crash, that came out of room.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 27 Oct. 2023
  • Only the location, the backstory and the names have changed.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2024
  • Well, here’s the backstory, and here’s the players involved.
    — Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 24 Jan. 2024
  • Collins outlined Snow’s backstory in the book on which that film was based.
    — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 20 June 2024
  • But over several listens, the backstory starts to fall away, and the song as a whole sinks in.
    — Mark Richardson, Pitchfork, 2 Nov. 2023
  • Here’s the backstory of Wisconsin raising the flag over the years.
    — Rachel Hale, Journal Sentinel, 31 May 2024
  • Sources say the executives had no idea what to make of the doll or its backstory.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 26 Oct. 2023
  • Who wants a hero who expires under the sheer weight of backstory?
    — Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 14 July 2023
  • The new film circles back to the opening, and the backstory, of the first film: Adonis’s troubled childhood years in a group home.
    — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2023
  • There’s narrative and backstory lacking, and the songs don’t help much.
    — Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 2 July 2023
  • That felt like her backstory served the forward movement of the show versus added something.
    — Caroline Brew, Variety, 16 Mar. 2024
  • Queen Charlotte gives a bit more insight into the backstory behind the queen's right hand man and his love life.
    — Olivia Evans, Women's Health, 12 May 2023
  • And there are many, many more across the globe, each with its own infinitely rich backstory.
    — Max Olesker, Longreads, 13 July 2023
  • In the first room of the exhibit, visitors learn that backstory.
    — Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2024
  • Like some of the rapid-fire lyrics, the jumble of backstory may also seem arcane for those not familiar with the plot.
    — John Wenzel, The Denver Post, 20 June 2024
  • A lot of ink has been spilled imagining a backstory to this music.
    — John Adams, The New Yorker, 4 Dec. 2023
  • The focus on music may seem out of place to those who aren’t familiar with Kono’s backstory.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2023
  • His backstory was well known, as one of seven mainstays from that Houston squad still in the majors.
    — Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2023
  • For the first time, though, his backstory doesn’t feel concocted for effect.
    — Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2023
  • On the other hand, the new movie centers on something small and quiet: the backstory of Rocket Raccoon.
    — Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2023
  • The tour starts with Lamborghini’s first car, the 350GT, which has a unique and important backstory.
    — Michael Aaron, Car and Driver, 9 June 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'backstory.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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