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
Altman resisted any trade overtures at the time.
—
Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Orrick, who did not acknowledge the city’s overtures, appeared more interested in what Lee had to say.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
His overtures were met with pushback from Greenlandic, Danish and European leaders, with multiple European countries sending troops to the semiautonomous Danish territory last week.
—Max Rego, The Hill, 19 Jan. 2026
The two countries did make tentative overtures in the late 1990s, when Iranians were electing politicians on promises of greater personal freedom and openness.
—Karl Vick, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Despite his positive words about the regime, which is practically unchanged save Maduro’s absence, in the last few days Trump has made overtures to María Corina Machado, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and opposition leader who was barred from running in Venezuela’s 2024 general election.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026
Whether that holds true will depend on her political overtures.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
Plenty of conferences made overtures, but rather than itching to keep up with the Joneses, Bourne studied his peers.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
Instead, New Delhi has made significant overtures to Europe, including accelerating efforts to conclude trade agreements with the United Kingdom and the European Union.
—Tanvi Madan, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Orrick, who did not acknowledge the city’s overtures, appeared more interested in what Lee had to say.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
His overtures were met with pushback from Greenlandic, Danish and European leaders, with multiple European countries sending troops to the semiautonomous Danish territory last week.
—Max Rego, The Hill, 19 Jan. 2026
The two countries did make tentative overtures in the late 1990s, when Iranians were electing politicians on promises of greater personal freedom and openness.
—Karl Vick, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Despite his positive words about the regime, which is practically unchanged save Maduro’s absence, in the last few days Trump has made overtures to María Corina Machado, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and opposition leader who was barred from running in Venezuela’s 2024 general election.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026
Whether that holds true will depend on her political overtures.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
Plenty of conferences made overtures, but rather than itching to keep up with the Joneses, Bourne studied his peers.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
Instead, New Delhi has made significant overtures to Europe, including accelerating efforts to conclude trade agreements with the United Kingdom and the European Union.
—Tanvi Madan, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overtures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overtures. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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