1
as in forerunner
one that announces or indicates the later arrival of another
18th-century lyric poets like Robert Burns were precursors of the Romantics
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in ancestor
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed
a precursor of the modern eggplant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of precursor
Dragonfly will study Titan's surface, which could give scientists clues on whether or not the moon's hydrocarbon lakes and rivers hold molecules that are a precursor for life.
—
Julian Dossett, Space.com, 24 Mar. 2026
The results of our Integrated Care for Kids (InCK) Model, the precursor to ASPIRE, speak for themselves.
—Mehmet Oz, STAT, 24 Mar. 2026
The Teatro di Marcello – a miniature precursor to the Colosseum – offers ancient grandeur without the queues.
—Vicki Power, TheWeek, 23 Mar. 2026
The recovered material can then be dissolved and reprocessed, allowing the precursor compound, newberyite, to be formed again as a solid.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for precursor
Julian Dossett, Space.com, 24 Mar. 2026
The results of our Integrated Care for Kids (InCK) Model, the precursor to ASPIRE, speak for themselves.
—Mehmet Oz, STAT, 24 Mar. 2026
The Teatro di Marcello – a miniature precursor to the Colosseum – offers ancient grandeur without the queues.
—Vicki Power, TheWeek, 23 Mar. 2026
The recovered material can then be dissolved and reprocessed, allowing the precursor compound, newberyite, to be formed again as a solid.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for precursor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precursor
Noun
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The camp is a program of the Woodcraft Rangers, founded by author and naturalist Ernest Thompson Seton, whose pioneering Woodcraft Rangers program was a forerunner to groups such as the Boy Scouts.—
Jessie Dax-Setkus,
Oc Register,
22 Mar. 2026
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The Norwegian ended his season before the Olympics to further recover from a shoulder injury, but attended the finals as one of the forerunners, who test a course shortly before a race starts.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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People whose ancestors ate a lot of endosperm have extra copies of the genes that make starch‑digesting enzymes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
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In my last visit to my village, my mother asked me to scrape some soil into my hands and whisper a prayer to my ancestors.—
Chinonso Ihekire,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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These harbingers of doom turn out to be on to something, because shortly after, the couple are in an accident in which Jakob is killed.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
23 Mar. 2026
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But if his early production is a harbinger of things to come, that could quickly change.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Red flags worth walking away from include dismissing symptoms without investigation, attributing everything to stress or anxiety, discouraging second opinions and making patients feel rushed.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
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At the same time, my primary care doctor and gynecologist suggested my symptoms — brain fog, fatigue and cognitive changes — were caused by menopause.—
Shon Lowe,
Twin Cities,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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John Tufts Spring is getting closer, and so is the full Worm Moon, a herald of the changing seasons.—
John Tufts,
IndyStar,
24 Feb. 2026
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Clear skies, buttery soft sunshine and tender new plant growth herald the early days of spring, weeks before the rest of the country gets to experience any of it.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Dozens showed up to the Capitol on Tuesday, where advocates made speeches and attendees held signs and flags.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
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Dozens flocked to City Hall, wielding signs and voicing pleas for Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty, Sacramento City Manager Maraskeshia Smith and other council members to halt construction.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Take the time to find your incentive to push you along the journey that the angel number 000 is signaling.—
Olivia Munson,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
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The victim's family and friends showed up at court wearing t-shirts with DeFrances' picture on them wrapped in angel's wings.—
Erika Stanish,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Precursor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precursor. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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