'storyline' originates from the combination of 'story' and 'line', where 'story' refers to a narrative and 'line' suggests a sequence or progression.

'storyline' evolved from the concept of a 'story' having a 'line' or sequence of events, becoming a common term in the 20th century.

Initially, it referred to the sequence of events in a narrative, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.