prologue

noun pro·logue \ ˈprō-ˌlȯg , -ˌläg \

variants: or less commonly prolog

Updated on: 25 Apr 2018

Definition of prologue

1 : the preface or introduction to a literary work

2 a : a speech often in verse addressed to the audience by an actor at the beginning of a play

b : the actor speaking such a prologue

3 : an introductory or preceding event or development

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Examples of prologue in a Sentence

the prologue to his autobiography
unfortunately, the burglary, which he committed while still a teen, was but a prologue to a wasted life of crime

Recent Examples of prologue from the Web

The prologue, Nakuru Kuru: Awakening, is a virtual reality experience that launches Friday in honor of Earth Day this weekend.

— Time, "See Nakuru Kuru Video About Cloudbreak On LIFE VR," 20 Apr. 2018
While the past is at best prologue, compared with presidents of yore, Trump hardly stands out as remarkable in his willingness to engage in personal and public feuds with large corporations that piss him off.

— zachary karabell, WIRED, "Trump’s Attack on Amazon Actually Has Its Precedents," 15 Apr. 2018
Those lyrics served as a suitable prologue for the often riveting performance that followed.

— george varga, sandiegouniontribune.com, "David Byrne performs transcendent San Diego concert before heading to his Coachella performance," 13 Apr. 2018
Its five tribes have seen little contact with the outside world (be sure to arrive on time to the film for the prologue that explains the country’s history).

— david frese, kansascity, "Black Panther: 10 things to know about Marvel superhero | The Kansas City Star," 13 Feb. 2018
There’s a cloud of residual guilt hanging over Regan, tied to the prologue.

— michael phillips, chicagotribune.com, "'A Quiet Place' review: Hush, little family, don't say a word or the monsters will get you," 5 Apr. 2018
Based on a script written by Joel and Ethan Coen in the 1980s, the film opens with a cheery prologue promoting the charms of Suburbicon, which include a church and a mall.

— autumn rendall, Houston Chronicle, "Cultures collide at downtown festival," 31 Mar. 2018
The prologue really won't provide much insight for a preview to the divisional round.

— nate davis, USA TODAY, "20 things we learned during NFL wild-card weekend," 7 Jan. 2018
But if the past is prologue, Beltway Democrats are going to get the wrong message from whatever happens on Tuesday.

— will bunch, Philly.com, "A Democratic win in Pa. Trump Country won't mean what you think it means | Will Bunch," 11 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prologue.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

In ancient Greek drama, the prologos (a word that means basically "speaking before") was the opening portion of the play, before the entry of the all-important chorus. It might be spoken by a single actor, maybe playing a god, who would "set the scene" for the audience. Playwrights today instead often provide the same kind of "scene-setting" information through dialogue near the play's beginning; in movies, it may appear (as in the "Star Wars" series) in the form of actual written text. In a nonfiction book, the lead-in is now usually called a preface or introduction; novels rarely provide any introduction at all. Still, prologue remains a useful word for nonliterary purposes. The saying "The past is prologue" tells us that, in real life, almost everything can be a prologue to what follows it.

Origin and Etymology of prologue

Middle English prolog, from Anglo-French prologue, from Latin prologus preface to a play, from Greek prologos part of a Greek play preceding the entry of the chorus, from pro- before + legein to speak — more at pro-, legend

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year