chronicle

1 of 3

noun (1)

chron·​i·​cle ˈkrä-ni-kəl How to pronounce chronicle (audio)
Synonyms of chronicle
1
: a historical account of events arranged in order of time usually without analysis or interpretation
a chronicle of the Civil War
2
: narrative sense 1
a chronicle of the struggle against drug traffickers

chronicle

2 of 3

verb

chronicled; chronicling ˈkrä-ni-k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce chronicle (audio)

transitive verb

: to present a record of in or as if in a chronicle
chronicle Victorian society
chronicle the doings of the rich and famous
chronicler
ˈkrä-ni-k(ə-)lər How to pronounce chronicle (audio)
noun

chronicler

3 of 3

noun (2)

chron·​i·​cler ˈkrä-ni-k(ə-)lər How to pronounce chronicler (audio)
plural -s
: a writer or compiler of a chronicle
a historian without philosophy is but a chronicler—John Mason Brown
disillusioned chronicler of social disintegration—Carlos Baker
successful chronicler of the upper middle class—Taliaferro Boatwright

Synonyms of chronicle

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Noun (1)

Verb

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Examples of chronicle in a Sentence

Noun (1) a chronicle of the American Civil War a chronicle of the President's years in office Verb The book chronicles the events that led to the American Civil War. She intends to chronicle the broad social changes that have occurred in this part of the country. a magazine that chronicles the lives of the rich and famous
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
His 2023 book chronicles that the worldwide movement for such structures is not just feel-good environmentalism but based on verifiable research that demonstrates efficacy and benefits. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 6 Aug. 2026 The acclaimed documentary captures a 20-year personal chronicle of a family struggling with severe mental illness and social isolation. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
The explanation behind this family man’s strange case is well chronicled in many Chicago and New York news stories. — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026 Such filings typically chronicle the impact of a defendant's crimes, as well as his history, upbringing and other aggravating or mitigating factors. — ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chronicle

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English cronycle, borrowed from Anglo-French cronike, cronicle (-le perhaps by assimilation to words with the suffix -icle, as article article entry 1), borrowed from Latin chronica "book of annals," borrowed from Greek (tà) chroniká, (hai) chronikaí, from plural of chronikós "of time, temporal, in order by time" (with a noun such as biblía "books" or graphaí "writings" understood) — more at chronic

Verb

Middle English cronyclen, verbal derivative of cronycle chronicle entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle English cronicler, from croniclen + -er

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chronicle was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing chronicle

Rhymes for chronicle

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Browse Nearby Words

chronicity
chronicle
chronicle drama
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chronicle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chronicle. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

chronicle

1 of 2 noun
chron·​i·​cle ˈkrän-i-kəl How to pronounce chronicle (audio)
: an account of events in the order of their happening : history

chronicle

2 of 2 verb
chronicled; chronicling -k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce chronicle (audio)
: to present a record of in or as if in a chronicle
chronicle the major events of last year
chronicler
-k(ə-)lər How to pronounce chronicle (audio)
noun
Etymology

Noun

Middle English cronicle "chronicle," from early French chronique (same meaning), derived from Greek chronikos, "of time," from chronos "time" — related to anachronism, chronic, synchronous

More from Merriam-Webster on chronicle

Nglish: Translation of chronicle for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chronicle

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