scenario

noun

sce·​nar·​io sə-ˈner-ē-ˌō How to pronounce scenario (audio)
 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
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

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 Related Articles Here’s a not-unrealistic scenario: The Sharks lose in regulation time on Saturday, and Chicago beats Anaheim on Thursday and San Jose on Saturday. Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024 In one potential scenario, District 7 could be represented by the special election winner for roughly one month. Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 19 Mar. 2024 The spell-off can also happen in two other scenarios, both also having to do with either getting too close to or reaching 1 hour and 55 minutes. David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2024 The worst-case scenario equates to under 200 miles of range with a full battery. Bradley Brownell / Jalopnik, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024 The scenario the show ultimately posits bears little resemblance to traditional sci-fi fare; the aliens are coming, but not for another four hundred years, putting humanity on notice for an encounter—and possibly a war—that’s many lifetimes away. Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024 The central and southern parts of the territory also face a risk of famine by July if the worst-case scenarios come to pass, the Integrated Food Security group said. Thomas Fuller, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2024 The most likely scenario is the one that many Americans are dreading: This race becomes a repeat of 2020, with little attention paid to third-party candidates by the time Election Day rolls around. Kaleigh Rogers, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2024 Daniel Lawrence Taylor isn’t stripping the genre down to its essence to start over, even if he’s chosen a very specific fish-out-of-water scenario for his five heroes. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Latin scaenarium place for erecting stages, from scaena stage

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of scenario was in 1768

Dictionary Entries Near scenario

Cite this Entry

“Scenario.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scenario. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

scenario

noun
sce·​nar·​io sə-ˈnar-ē-ˌō How to pronounce scenario (audio)
-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

More from Merriam-Webster on scenario

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