as in preludes
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 overtures
There are unanswered overtures from the choir’s pianist Horner (Robert Emms), a soft, vulnerable young man whose conscientious-objector status renders him a fellow outsider.
—
Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 Oct. 2025
But with a combative Trump questioning the very purpose of the UN at his speech before the General Assembly, Beijing has an international audience that may be more receptive to its overtures.
—Jeffrey Prescott, Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2025
Since then, Moscow has expanded its drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, while seemingly ignoring his overtures for further dialogue to end the conflict.
—Matthew Bodner, NBC news, 25 Sep. 2025
Lee has made peace overtures since taking office in June, saying dialog with Pyongyang was necessary, and has proposed steps to build confidence and eventually end the North’s nuclear program.
—Reuters, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025
There’s the fact that Simone betrayed her by accepting Peter’s overtures, and therefore treated Michaela in the same dismissive way that Michaela once treated Peter’s first wife.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Needless to say, progressive Democrats did not respond to those companies’ overtures by abandoning Trader Joe’s and prosecco to guzzle Buds at Wally World.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
Yet here Emery was, again, posed with Martinez and his overtures for Man United, despite no new bid being lodged throughout Sunday.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2025
Ad sales execs had been trying to get agencies to bite on OOH viewing for decades, but their overtures always fell on deaf ears.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 Oct. 2025
But with a combative Trump questioning the very purpose of the UN at his speech before the General Assembly, Beijing has an international audience that may be more receptive to its overtures.
—Jeffrey Prescott, Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2025
Since then, Moscow has expanded its drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, while seemingly ignoring his overtures for further dialogue to end the conflict.
—Matthew Bodner, NBC news, 25 Sep. 2025
Lee has made peace overtures since taking office in June, saying dialog with Pyongyang was necessary, and has proposed steps to build confidence and eventually end the North’s nuclear program.
—Reuters, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025
There’s the fact that Simone betrayed her by accepting Peter’s overtures, and therefore treated Michaela in the same dismissive way that Michaela once treated Peter’s first wife.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Needless to say, progressive Democrats did not respond to those companies’ overtures by abandoning Trader Joe’s and prosecco to guzzle Buds at Wally World.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
Yet here Emery was, again, posed with Martinez and his overtures for Man United, despite no new bid being lodged throughout Sunday.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2025
Ad sales execs had been trying to get agencies to bite on OOH viewing for decades, but their overtures always fell on deaf ears.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overtures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overtures. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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