prelude

1 of 2

noun

pre·​lude ˈprel-ˌyüd 

ˈprāl-;

ˈpre-ˌlüd,

ˈprā-;

sense 1 also

ˈprē-ˌlüd 

1

: an introductory performance, action, or event preceding and preparing for the principal or a more important matter

2

a

: a musical section or movement introducing the theme or chief subject (as of a fugue or suite) or serving as an introduction to an opera or oratorio

b

: an opening voluntary

c

: a separate concert piece usually for piano or orchestra and based entirely on a short motif

prelude

2 of 2

verb

preluded; preluding

transitive verb

1

: to serve as a prelude to

2

: to play as a prelude

intransitive verb

: to give or serve as a prelude

especially : to play a musical introduction

preluder noun

Synonyms

Noun

• curtain-raiser
• overture
• preamble
• preliminary
• prologue
• prolog
• warm-up

Examples of prelude in a Sentence

Noun

an eruption of sectarian violence that proved to be the prelude to all-out civil war

the musical had a brief prelude to get the audience in the proper mood

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Earlier this month, the administration began targeting the nonprofit status of Harvard University, which could be a prelude to a broader effort to eliminate the tax-exempt status for other nonprofit organizations that the administration has clashed with. —Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025

Hegseth may not know that the U.S. suffered twice as many casualties as the Spanish in that long-ago battle, the prelude to a needless and costly war of aggression. —Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025

Verb

What happened Monday night was past and prelude all at once. —Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025

With fashion week officially kicking off Thursday — but already preluded by several days of parties — Rowe shared her plan for the days ahead. —Kristen Tauer, WWD, 6 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French, from Medieval Latin praeludium, from Latin praeludere to play beforehand, from prae- + ludere to play — more at ludicrous

First Known Use

Noun

1561, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1632, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing prelude

• chorale prelude

Rhymes for prelude

• accrued
• allude
• collude
• conclude
• construed
• debuted
• delude
• elude
• endued
• ensued
• eschewed
• etude

Kids Definition

prelude

1 of 2 noun

pre·​lude ˈprel-ˌ(y)üd  ˈprā-ˌl(y)üd 

1

: something that comes before and prepares for the main or more important parts

the wind was a prelude to the storm

2

a

: a short musical introduction (as to an opera)

b

: a musical piece (as an organ solo) played at the beginning of a church service

prelude

2 of 2 verb

preluded; preluding

: to give, play, or serve as a prelude