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
And in Lebanon, with Hezbollah militarily diminished and on the back foot politically, a strengthened government is making diplomatic overtures to Gulf Arab states.
—
Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 23 May 2025
Instead, Chinese officials recently said the country was assessing the Trump administration’s overtures.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 7 May 2025
But his critics say such overtures ring hollow without a clear strategy.
—Nik Popli, Time, 4 June 2025
According to multiple reports, Premier League team Chelsea is considering an overture for the 22-year-old.
—Henry Flynn, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for overture
Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 23 May 2025
Instead, Chinese officials recently said the country was assessing the Trump administration’s overtures.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 7 May 2025
But his critics say such overtures ring hollow without a clear strategy.
—Nik Popli, Time, 4 June 2025
According to multiple reports, Premier League team Chelsea is considering an overture for the 22-year-old.
—Henry Flynn, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for overture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overture
prelude
Noun
-
Perhaps as a prelude to a settlement, Salem Media just issued another apology for allowing Colorado podcaster Joe Oltmann to voice false statements about Coomer on air.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
20 June 2025
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That latest dot plot carried preludes to stagflation—among the most catastrophic economic scenarios.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overture. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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