What does narration mean?
Narration is the telling of a story, event, or sequence of experiences through speech, writing, or another expressive medium. In everyday use, it often refers to the spoken commentary that accompanies a film, documentary, audiobook, or video, though narration can also be literary and may appear in first-person or third-person form. The word is related to narrative and narrator, but it emphasizes the act of telling rather than the story itself or the person doing the telling. Narration may be informative, dramatic, reflective, or conversational, and its tone can shape how an audience interprets what it accompanies. Because narration is a broad term, it can refer to both the content of an account and the performance or voice that delivers it. Understanding the distinction is useful in media studies, creative writing, journalism, and everyday discussion of stories and presentations.
nounThe act of telling or narrating a story, event, or account. Narration may refer to the spoken or written telling of events, especially in a film, book, documentary, or other media.
- The act or process of telling a story or giving an account of events.
- A spoken or written account delivered as part of a film, book, performance, or other work.
- A narrative voice or perspective, especially one that explains or comments on what is shown.
"The documentary uses clear, understated narration to guide the audience through the history of the region."
"Her narration of the oral history gave the archive a vivid sense of place."
"The film's narration shifts between historical commentary and personal reflection."
Used when referring to separate acts, accounts, or instances of telling a story.
"The series combines several distinct narrations from different witnesses."
Narration is the invisible storyteller that turns images, sounds, and written text into a story.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does narration come from?
Narration comes from Latin narration, a noun meaning “a telling, narration, or account,” derived from narrare, “to tell, relate, or recount.” The English word entered use in the early 16th century in connection with storytelling and legal or rhetorical accounts. It shares its root with narrate, narrator, and narrative, which developed in English through the same Latin tradition.
Related word forms
How narration is actually used
Narration is especially common in film, television, audio production, and literature. It can be spoken by a narrator, written as narration, or used to describe the overall process of telling a story.