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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of preamble The rest of your preamble spoke to Stanley’s usage, referencing healthy scratches last year and overuse this season, while wondering why Ville Heinola wasn’t getting the same opportunity. Murat Ates, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025 The preamble says that behind-the-meter sources of clean electricity often already participate in EAC registries, which should make the transition fairly seamless for most. Marie Sapirie, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025 The Trump bit was just a preamble; the show’s real focus was a scandal involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Ruth Margalit, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025 With this preamble, people on average get about two questions out of three correct. Philip Maymin, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for preamble 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preamble
Noun
  • For the past 11 seasons, being named the AP first-team All-Pro quarterback was a prelude to winning the NFL’s MVP award.
    Josh Dubow, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2025
  • In an interview with Politico on Monday, Caruso denied that the non-profit is a prelude to a new campaign.
    Pat Saperstein, Variety, 3 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Regardless, its introduction caused confusion and fear among Palestinians.
    Christine Leuenberger, The Conversation, 7 Feb. 2025
  • Changes to notification processes began immediately and were implemented over the years, including the 2018 introduction of alerts being sent to cell phones.
    Steve Koester, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Sponsored by the Miss Montgomery County Organization, the Miss Bethesda’s Teen title serves as a preliminary to the Miss Maryland and Miss America competitions.
    Susan Soldavin, Baltimore Sun, 15 Jan. 2025
  • The Southern Section held its track and field preliminaries at four sites around Southern California on Saturday, and sophomore Brian Bonner of Valencia High continued his rise to prominence.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2024
Noun
  • Injuries weren’t the Lions’ only problem Let’s preface this section by acknowledging that the Lions’ defense was decimated by injuries before the game and then lost starting corner Amik Robertson early in the contest.
    Ted Nguyen, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
  • Ralph Ellison heavily annotated his copy of the novel’s preface.
    Max Chapnick, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The foreword is by David Lehman, a poet and critic born in 1948.
    Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 31 Jan. 2025
  • In a post to X, Shriver, 69, shared a photo of Caroline, 67, next to JFK's book Profiles in Courage, for which Bobby's father, Robert F. Kennedy, wrote the original foreword and Caroline later added an introduction.
    Rachel Raposas, People.com, 29 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near preamble

Cite this Entry

“Preamble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preamble. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on preamble

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!