through line
noun
variants
or throughline
or less commonly through-line
: a common or consistent element or theme shared by items in a series or by parts of a whole
But Kent's latest nonetheless reveals a fascinating through line in her work, which centers on, as she puts it, "disrespect for the feminine"—and the inciting power of female rage.—
Rachel Handler
Rachel HandlerVang was born in a refugee camp in Thailand, and came to the United States in the late 1980s. For him and his family, food was the throughline keeping them connected to their culture, wherever they were.—Sharyn Jackson
Sharyn JacksonPerverse moments like these are a throughline in Decker's work. The Texas native specializes in "bad" desires—awkward wants that tend to go unexpressed, or which otherwise seem too compromising to confess even to oneself.—K. Austin Collins
K. Austin CollinsUnlike Tokyo's great shopping thoroughfares, which have a certain logical through-line (if not aesthetic, at least socioeconomic), Osaka's arcades are mismatched, high-low jumbles of retail diversions.—Simon Dumenco
Simon DumencoExamples of through line in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There might be a fascinating play here, but the amorphous scenes that Hyland provides lack a dramatic through line.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Across the house, Murano glass fixtures act as a through line, lending continuity and a touch of whimsy.
—Linne Halpern, Architectural Digest, 12 Feb. 2026
Ralph Lauren’s enduring love for rugged denim has long been a through line in his all-American vision.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 9 Feb. 2026
Walsh’s playbook serves as the through line for the series, and the production leaned heavily on the coach’s personal archives.
—Daniel Brown, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for through line
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Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Across the house, Murano glass fixtures act as a through line, lending continuity and a touch of whimsy.
—Linne Halpern, Architectural Digest, 12 Feb. 2026
Ralph Lauren’s enduring love for rugged denim has long been a through line in his all-American vision.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 9 Feb. 2026
Walsh’s playbook serves as the through line for the series, and the production leaned heavily on the coach’s personal archives.
—Daniel Brown, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for through line
Cite this Entry
“Through line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/through%20line. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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