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.
This sketch about Casual Friday aboard the Death Star almost plays like a prequel to the latter classic, only with a much higher degree of difficulty. Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 28 May 2026 The feature film acts as a prequel, exploring the origin story behind the Frankelda seen in the original show. Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 28 May 2026 Lionsgate will open their prequel John Rambo on June 4 next year. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 28 May 2026 According to series creator Eric Kripke, the Supes in this prequel start out in the military before moving to a flashier private sector—what will ultimately become Vought International. ArsTechnica, 22 May 2026 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

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Cite this Entry

“Prequel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prequel. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.

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