prefigure

verb

pre·​fig·​ure ˌprē-ˈfi-gyər 

 especially British  -ˈfi-gə

prefigured; prefiguring; prefigures

transitive verb

1

: to show, suggest, or announce by an antecedent type, image, or likeness

2

: to picture or imagine beforehand

prefigurement

ˌprē-ˈfi-gyər-mənt 

 especially British  -ˈfi-gə-

noun

Synonyms

• adumbrate
• forerun
• foreshadow
• harbinger
• herald

Examples of prefigure in a Sentence

His style of painting prefigured the development of modern art.

the first crocus traditionally prefigures the arrival of spring

Recent Examples on the Web

The widescreen, 35mm format prefigured IMAX and other high-density imagery in a way that still stuns on screen. —John Wenzel, The Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2025

It is also prefigured (another Biblical device) by Pharaoh’s order, in Exodus, to kill all male babies born to Hebrew mothers. —Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin praefigurare, from Latin prae- pre- + figurare to shape, picture, from figura figure

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for prefigure

• configure
• disfigure
• figure
• reconfigure

Kids Definition

prefigure

verb

pre·​fig·​ure (ˈ)prē-ˈfig-yər 

 especially British  -ˈfig-ər

1

: to show, suggest, or announce by an earlier type, image, or likeness

the first crocus prefigures the arrival of spring

2

: to picture or imagine beforehand

prefigure the outcome of the game

prefiguration

(ˌ)prē-ˌfig-(y)ə-ˈrā-shən

noun

prefigurement

(ˈ)prē-ˈfig-yər-mənt 

 especially British  -ˈfig-ər-

noun