prequel

noun

pre·​quel ˈprē-kwəl How to pronounce prequel (audio)
: a work (such as a novel or a play) whose story precedes that of an earlier work

Examples of prequel in a Sentence

His next film will be a prequel to last year's hit movie.
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.
Welcome to Derry, which is a prequel to the 2017 and 2019 films. Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025 Especially with the underwhelming run of prequels Hollywood has churned out lately. Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025 After the show starring the late James Gandofini wrapped its six-season run in 2007, Chase focused his attention on features, writing, directing and producing the 2012 film Not Fade Away and co-writing and producing The Sopranos prequel movie The Many Saints Of Newark, released in 2021. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025 The upcoming series is a prequel to the IT films, which adapted Stephen King‘s horror novel about a small town in Maine that’s cursed by the presence of a shapeshifting killer that returns to murder a slew of children every 27 years. James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prequel

Word History

Etymology

pre- + -quel (as in sequel)

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prequel was in 1958

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prequel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prequel. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

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