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
Relevance
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
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.
Recent Examples of precursor
Blue Origin is meanwhile still developing the Mark 2 lander and only intends to test launch its precursor — the Mark 1 — later this year.
—
Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2025
The records stated some of the drugs were a precursor to methamphetamine.
—Charlotte Observer, 22 Aug. 2025
These types of civil demands are typically a precursor to litigation, which Rokita has floated as a possibility.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 14 Aug. 2025
Demonstrations against Willis wagons were a precursor to a more sweeping Civil Rights Movement in Chicago that drew the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to the city in 1966 — the same year Willis resigned.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precursor
Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2025
The records stated some of the drugs were a precursor to methamphetamine.
—Charlotte Observer, 22 Aug. 2025
These types of civil demands are typically a precursor to litigation, which Rokita has floated as a possibility.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 14 Aug. 2025
Demonstrations against Willis wagons were a precursor to a more sweeping Civil Rights Movement in Chicago that drew the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to the city in 1966 — the same year Willis resigned.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precursor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precursor
Noun
-
German missile designers launched their V2 rocket for the first time—the forerunner of the ICBM that would blitz the United Kingdom—and Berlin’s Luftwaffe dominated European skies.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
His band may be forerunners in this respect, but Allen recognizes that the attention is paying off for all of his Alabama contemporaries.—
Josh Crutchmer,
Rolling Stone,
28 June 2025
Noun
-
No offense to landscapes and wildlife painting and portraits of ancestors–Burgess does all of that, too–but here was something different, provocative.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
-
Though the efforts of our ancestors were often met with devastating backlash, the truth remains: this is the blueprint.—
Essence,
Essence,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen might find himself in a similar boat one day if his regression this past season is a harbinger of what's to come.—
Bryan Toporek,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
-
The Red Sox were hoping his outstanding postseason performance — capped by a strikeout to end the World Series — was a harbinger of better things to come.—
Jon Paul Hoornstra,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
People with symptoms should seek medical care as soon as possible, health officials said.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
30 Aug. 2025
-
Officials did not provide information on the person’s condition or whether they were hospitalized or had underlying health conditions, common among those with acute symptoms of West Nile.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Julia Garner As Shalla-Bal/Silver Surfer Garner’s character, Shalla-Bal, also known as Silver Surfer, is a herald who warns the Fantastic Four that their planet will be consumed by Galactus.—
Olivia Singh,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
-
So says Galactus, devourer of worlds, for whom noshing involves planets, and whose herald is Silver Surfer.—
Michael Phillips,
Chicago Tribune,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
Perhaps just like the signs around campus say — Now is our Time.—
Grace Raynor,
New York Times,
27 Aug. 2025
-
Another sign something was wrong: a childhood stutter reemerged.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Jatin also extends this vision in other ventures, such as his work as an angel investor in developer tool companies, giving him broader visibility into evolving market trends and the demands of software teams — as well as how those two might intersect.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
30 Aug. 2025
-
Back at the table, angel Miguel reminds Liv that no one is perfect, Kaylor is really going through it, and perhaps this is not the time nor place for this conversation.—
Olivia Crandall,
Vulture,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Precursor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precursor. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share