as in prelude
a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event
the parade down Main Street served as the overture for a weekend of fun and festivities
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Recent Examples of overture
China has in recent years forged industrial and defense ties with several North African nations, and Egypt has been cautiously receptive to Beijing’s overtures, frustrated with US pullbacks but wary of growing too close to a country that many in the region view as excessively transactional.
—
semafor.com, 10 July 2025
However, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei didn’t agree, so not much came of the mutual overtures as Clinton’s time in office came to an end.
—Jeffrey Fields, The Conversation, 18 June 2025
Musk does not appear to be backing down from dredging up the Epstein issue on X, despite Trump’s overture.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Iran's response to both the military strikes and diplomatic overtures remains uncertain, as tensions in the region continue to simmer.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for overture
semafor.com, 10 July 2025
However, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei didn’t agree, so not much came of the mutual overtures as Clinton’s time in office came to an end.
—Jeffrey Fields, The Conversation, 18 June 2025
Musk does not appear to be backing down from dredging up the Epstein issue on X, despite Trump’s overture.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Iran's response to both the military strikes and diplomatic overtures remains uncertain, as tensions in the region continue to simmer.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for overture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overture
prelude
Noun
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Without prelude, Eva Longoria suddenly popped up in the second episode of this spring’s fourth season of FX’s Welcome to Wrexham, cheering alongside Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny (now Rob Mac) in the crowd at the Racecourse.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Aug. 2025
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North Korean arms have also been found in the hands of the Palestinian Hamas movement, including during its October 2023 assault that sparked the still-ongoing war in Gaza and served as the prelude to Iran and Israel's direct conflict.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overture. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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