scenario
noun
sce·nar·io
sə-ˈner-ē-ˌō 
US also and especially British -ˈnär-
plural scenarios
1
a
: an outline or synopsis of a play
especially
: a plot outline used by actors of the commedia dell'arte
b
: the libretto of an opera
2
a
b
3
: a sequence of events especially when imagined
especially
: an account or synopsis of a possible course of action or events
His scenario for a settlement envisages … reunification … —
Selig Harrison
Selig Harrison Examples of scenario in a Sentence
A possible scenario would be that we move to the city.
The most likely scenario is that he goes back to school in the fall.
The best-case scenario would be for us to finish the work by tomorrow.
In the worst-case scenario, we would have to start the project all over again.
Recent Examples on the Web
In his note, Mish and other UBS analysts lay out a baseline scenario in which borrowers of leveraged loans and private credit see a combined $75 billion to $120 billion in fresh defaults by the end of this year.
—Hugh Son, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Redirecting without rewarding the comment Different scenarios call for different responses.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Even if that may, in fact, be a longshot scenario.
—Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
For this reward-prediction scenario, there is an interesting and important shift in the timing of dopamine release.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
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Hugh Son, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Redirecting without rewarding the comment Different scenarios call for different responses.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Even if that may, in fact, be a longshot scenario.
—Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
For this reward-prediction scenario, there is an interesting and important shift in the timing of dopamine release.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scenario
Cite this Entry
“Scenario.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scenario. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scenario
noun
sce·nar·io
sə-ˈnar-ē-ˌō
-ˈner-,
-ˈnär-
plural scenarios
1
a
: an outline of a play
b
: the text of an opera
2
3
: a sequence of events especially when imagined
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