as in prelude
a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event
the opening of the performing arts center proved to be a curtain-raiser for the rebirth of the city's downtown
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Recent Examples of curtain-raiser
Here’s a curtain-raiser on SXSW Music 2026, which runs from March 12-16 — with all of the different sub-festivals running concurrently, for the first time in the Austin gathering’s four-decade history.
—
Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Mar. 2026
The world premiere of Hulu’s The Testaments is the curtain-raiser to this year’s Series Mania.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 9 Mar. 2026
The Supercopa de España began in 1982 as a quick curtain-raiser between the La Liga champions and the Copa del Rey winners, usually over two legs.
—Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2026
The show is something of a curtain-raiser for the holiday and Christmas period for the royals as the show is broadcast in December on ITV1 in the U.K.
—Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 17 Nov. 2025
Dense, yet never overwhelming, The Sanhedrin Chronicles is merely the curtain-raiser for an epic spanning multiple sequels.
—Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Neither outfit managed to find the back of the net in their curtain-raiser and collide at the London Stadium, aiming to finally get off the mark.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Mar. 2026
The world premiere of Hulu’s The Testaments is the curtain-raiser to this year’s Series Mania.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 9 Mar. 2026
The Supercopa de España began in 1982 as a quick curtain-raiser between the La Liga champions and the Copa del Rey winners, usually over two legs.
—Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2026
The show is something of a curtain-raiser for the holiday and Christmas period for the royals as the show is broadcast in December on ITV1 in the U.K.
—Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 17 Nov. 2025
Dense, yet never overwhelming, The Sanhedrin Chronicles is merely the curtain-raiser for an epic spanning multiple sequels.
—Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Neither outfit managed to find the back of the net in their curtain-raiser and collide at the London Stadium, aiming to finally get off the mark.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curtain-raiser
Noun
-
Fakemink released The Boy Who Cried Terrified, a prelude to the forthcoming album, last month.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
19 Mar. 2026
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Many conservative Christians view the Jewish return to Israel as a prelude to the Second Coming.—
Shalom Goldman,
The Conversation,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The hockey playoffs weren’t affected by the storm and are expected to start on March 2 with Division II preliminaries.—
Jacob Rousseau,
The Providence Journal,
26 Feb. 2026
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Switzerland crushed Germany in the men’s curling preliminaries, keeping a consistent lead before ending the game with a score of 8-4.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Curtain-raiser.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curtain-raiser. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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