1
as in prelude
a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event
the round of hors d'oeuvres was merely the preamble to an evening of lavish feasting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in introduction
a short section (as of a book) that leads to or explains the main part
an insightful analysis of the preamble to the Constitution of the United States
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preamble
But Alfonsi in an on-air preamble and post-script introduced other information and statistics.
—
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 20 Jan. 2026
What Shyne focuses on in this quiet, experiential preamble is not the who, the where, or the why of this person’s passing.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 17 Jan. 2026
The rest were preambles or dead ends.
—Dan Turello, New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2026
His victory in November was widely seen as a preamble to deregulation, with broadcasters set to benefit.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preamble
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 20 Jan. 2026
What Shyne focuses on in this quiet, experiential preamble is not the who, the where, or the why of this person’s passing.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 17 Jan. 2026
The rest were preambles or dead ends.
—Dan Turello, New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2026
His victory in November was widely seen as a preamble to deregulation, with broadcasters set to benefit.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preamble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preamble
Noun
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Yannick Nézét-Séguin let the prelude speak with minimal fuss, then unspooled the rest of the score with total control, pulling the thread taut, relaxing it, and increasing the tension again, until by the end the orchestra bloomed into rapture.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
11 Mar. 2026
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The jet set’s arrival in 1966 made Marrakesh synonymous with hashish-haze chic, yet the glossy-magazine pictures of Yves Saint Laurent in his garden and Talitha Getty on her rooftop were barely a prelude to the barrage of social media posts to come.—
Kevin West,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But the medium has evolved throughout history, never more so than in recent decades with the introduction of digital tools that can rapidly render complex forms.—
Edward Keegan,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
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The 98th Oscars will also see the introduction of a new prize, Best Casting, which is the first new category to be added to the Academy Awards in more than 20 years.—
Jodi Guglielmi,
Rolling Stone,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The hockey playoffs weren’t affected by the storm and are expected to start on March 2 with Division II preliminaries.—
Jacob Rousseau,
The Providence Journal,
26 Feb. 2026
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Switzerland crushed Germany in the men’s curling preliminaries, keeping a consistent lead before ending the game with a score of 8-4.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In his preface of the American Legion’s Junior Baseball for 1938 program, Chaillaux noted that 500,000 boys participated in Legion ball.—
Bill Swank,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
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Colbert opened his Monday night broadcast with a preface in light of Reiner’s death, as well as the shootings at Bondi Beach and Brown University.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
16 Dec. 2025
Noun
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This May, the 50th anniversary edition of the book—revamped with a new foreword by culinary historian and journalist Toni Tipton-Martin—will be released.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
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With a foreword by fellow Oaklander and Native American author Tommy Orange, Wahpepah’s book invites readers to a pre-colonial cuisine of bison roast with chokeberry rub, acorn muffins and wild rice fritters stuffed with apples, cranberries, pepita crema and much more.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preamble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preamble. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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