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
Late last year, Warner rebuffed Paramount’s overtures to instead strike a $72 billion studio and streaming deal with Netflix.
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Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
Late last year, Warner rebuffed Paramount’s overtures to instead strike a $72 billion studio and streaming deal with Netflix.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
More than a half-dozen sources close to Zaslav say that the CEO has barely concealed his frustration at being boxed into selling the company by the aggressive overtures of Paramount Skydance chief David Ellison last fall and winter.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
When that venture didn’t work out, Elliott returned to the recording business, turning down overtures from Emanuel, who was the best man at his wedding, to work as an agent.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026
Media overtures Companies outside of Silicon Valley have also gone to great lengths to win over the president.
—Annie Palmer,justin Papp, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
Protect your energy by responding to social overtures on your schedule — not the world’s.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
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, 4 Apr. 2026
If diplomatic overtures and negotiations do not persuade allies to adopt the same levels of restrictions proposed in the MATCH Act, the bill would direct the Commerce Department to invoke regulatory authorities that would force allies to cut off exports to China.
—Jared Perlo, NBC news, 2 Apr. 2026
Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
Late last year, Warner rebuffed Paramount’s overtures to instead strike a $72 billion studio and streaming deal with Netflix.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
More than a half-dozen sources close to Zaslav say that the CEO has barely concealed his frustration at being boxed into selling the company by the aggressive overtures of Paramount Skydance chief David Ellison last fall and winter.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
When that venture didn’t work out, Elliott returned to the recording business, turning down overtures from Emanuel, who was the best man at his wedding, to work as an agent.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026
Media overtures Companies outside of Silicon Valley have also gone to great lengths to win over the president.
—Annie Palmer,justin Papp, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
Protect your energy by responding to social overtures on your schedule — not the world’s.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
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, 4 Apr. 2026
If diplomatic overtures and negotiations do not persuade allies to adopt the same levels of restrictions proposed in the MATCH Act, the bill would direct the Commerce Department to invoke regulatory authorities that would force allies to cut off exports to China.
—Jared Perlo, NBC news, 2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overtures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overtures. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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