prequel

noun

pre·​quel ˈprē-kwəl 

: a work (such as a novel or a play) whose story precedes that of an earlier work

… the real payoff will be for the next Star Wars, an expected prequel to the previous three movies.

—Laurence Hooper

Examples of prequel in a Sentence

His next film will be a prequel to last year's hit movie.

Recent Examples on the Web

With an ensemble including Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, Richard Bright, Abe Vigoda, and Bruno Kirby, the prequel was already destined to be memorable, but Coppola's sense of timing and rhythm makes the film feel like a true achievement even decades later. —Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026

Yeah, where the prequel goes from here is really up to Peacock. —Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 11 June 2026

From a blockbuster prequel to a buzzy comedy mashup to two deeper cuts that could use more of an audience, here are four horror shows Emmy voters should screen this season. —William Earl, Variety, 11 June 2026

Sage Elsesser’s latest is fashioned as a prequel to his last two LPs, detailing the darkness before a spiritual awakening. —Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 10 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

pre- + -quel (as in sequel)

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for prequel

• equal
• sequel
• coequal
• subequal
• unequal