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
In many ways, Canada’s 1-0 win over South Africa on Sunday was the perfect curtain-raiser for the first-ever World Cup round of 32.
—
Thomas Floyd,
Washington Post,
29 June 2026
Unlike its counterparts in Europe, the Challenge Cup is still searching for a clear purpose beyond serving as a curtain-raiser between the league champion and Shield winner.
—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
27 June 2026
After epic curtain-raisers in 1970 and 1986, this year’s inaugural match will feature a resurgent Mexico against a youthful South Africa team.
—
Jonathan Thompson,
Travel + Leisure,
10 June 2026
The second season served as a curtain-raiser for Kaitlyn Dever and her character, Abby.
—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Only New Zealand comes in with a lower world ranking, and Les Grenadiers’ group features matchups with 2022 semifinalist Morocco and legendary Brazil (plus Scotland, whom Haiti will face in Foxboro’s World Cup curtain-raiser on June 13).
—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
2 June 2026
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
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
Thomas Floyd,
Washington Post,
29 June 2026
Unlike its counterparts in Europe, the Challenge Cup is still searching for a clear purpose beyond serving as a curtain-raiser between the league champion and Shield winner.
—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
27 June 2026
After epic curtain-raisers in 1970 and 1986, this year’s inaugural match will feature a resurgent Mexico against a youthful South Africa team.
—
Jonathan Thompson,
Travel + Leisure,
10 June 2026
The second season served as a curtain-raiser for Kaitlyn Dever and her character, Abby.
—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Only New Zealand comes in with a lower world ranking, and Les Grenadiers’ group features matchups with 2022 semifinalist Morocco and legendary Brazil (plus Scotland, whom Haiti will face in Foxboro’s World Cup curtain-raiser on June 13).
—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
2 June 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curtain-raiser
Noun
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Analysts widely believe Monday’s announcement is a prelude to eventual sales of both Comcast and NBCUniversal, a theory that Comcast rejects.
-
The current ceasefire is likely a prelude to the next round of war.
Noun
-
The meet continues Thursday, a day consisting largely of women’s preliminaries, followed by men’s finals Friday and women’s finals Saturday.
-
Hernandez, now a Southern Section champion again, along with all the other winners will move onto the CIF preliminaries next Saturday to face the rest of the state's top female jumpers, with a chance to get back to the state finals.
Cite this Entry
“Curtain-raiser.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curtain-raiser. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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