scenario
scenario — noun
1. An imagined sequence of future events, created to help people plan or prepare fo
An imagined sequence of future events, created to help people plan or prepare for different possible outcomes.
Ari's team described several possible scenarios for how the climate might change.
In the worst-case scenario, the factory would close and all workers would lose their jobs.
collocation: worst-case scenario
Before moving downtown, Zola asked the planners to outline each possible scenario.
The school board prepared a second scenario in case the budget cuts became permanent.
Lan said the optimistic scenario they had written about was actually starting to happen.
- possibility
less structured — a possibility is a single option, while a scenario includes a sequence of events
- situation
broader — refers to present conditions rather than imagined future events
- outlook
more about prediction — an outlook is a forecast, while a scenario is one of several possible paths
- fact
a scenario is imagined or projected; a fact is something that has actually happened
用法筆記
Frequently modified by a preceding adjective that describes the nature of the future (worst-case, best-case, likely, possible, doomsday). The compound noun 'scenario planning' is also common in business and policy contexts.
常見錯誤
2. A document that describes the order of events in a film, play, or television sho
A document that describes the order of events in a film, play, or television show, telling what happens to the characters scene by scene.
Manuela wrote the opening scene after the director approved the scenario.
The film's scenario was changed several times before the actors began rehearsals.
passive: scenario was changed
Dylan read the full scenario of the play before agreeing to take the main role.
In the original scenario, the children find a hidden treasure inside an old forest cabin.
Beatrix compared the final film with the written scenario to spot the differences.
- outline
broader — can describe any text or plan, not specific to film or theatre
- synopsis
more focused on summarising the plot rather than structuring a production
- screenplay
more detailed — includes full dialogue and camera directions
用法筆記
Distinguish from 'script': a scenario outlines the main events and plot structure without full dialogue, while a script contains every character's exact words.