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
… 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
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.
The prequel, scheduled to start production in Thailand in early 2026, is set during the Vietnam War and will explore the formative experiences that shaped the Rambo action hero made famous by Sylvester Stallone in the 1980s. Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025 His Hollywood breakout was George Lucas’s Star Wars prequels. Zac Ntim, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025 That shouldn't come as much of a surprise, though, given that the drama's co-creator is Taylor Sheridan, the celebrated writer and producer known for shows such as Yellowstone, its prequels 1883 and 1923, and Mayor of Kingstown. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Nov. 2025 But being a prequel (and technically an interquel, too) doesn’t mean that there aren’t surprises in store. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prequel

Word History

Etymology

pre- + -quel (as in sequel)

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prequel was in 1922

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prequel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prequel. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on prequel

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!