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

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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 Its first season felt like a preamble – slow and trite. New Atlas, 6 Mar. 2025 In practice, this means presenting your recommendations first, without a long preamble. Charles Fallon, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025 Congress first passed the amendment in 1972 with a 7-year ratification deadline in its preamble (The deadline was extended by three years). April Rubin, Axios, 17 Jan. 2025 Proponents argue that the deadline, which appears only in the preamble and not in the amendment's text, is non-binding. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for preamble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preamble
Noun
  • The event will serve as a prelude to the main iHeartCountry Festival show later that evening at 7 p.m. the Moody Center.
    Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
  • Yet the Southern California scores were a modest prelude to the job in Lebec.
    Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • Asian lagers, a newer category, continue to increase in entrants since their introduction just two years ago.
    Erik Ofgang, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Key to England’s shift in momentum in the knockouts was the introduction of Birmingham City’s Jay Stansfield to the starting line-up.
    Art de Roché, New York Times, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • Today's listen Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The Scripps National Spelling Bee is celebrating its 100th anniversary this week, with preliminaries kicking off last night.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 28 May 2025
  • Sports High School Sports News See who qualified from Thursday's preliminaries for the CIFSS Division 1 finals on Saturday at Mt. SAC.
    Dan Albano, Oc Register, 8 May 2025
Noun
  • Recommended Stories The 2028 Democratic presidential field begins to take shape at a low point for the party Embarrassing displays of media blindness Trump tariffs: Bargaining tool or preface to a global trade war?
    Carson Becker, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025
  • The funeral of Pope Francis: Even in death, Pope Francis is breaking with tradition for his funeral and burial Prior to his hospitalization, Pope Francis wrote about death in the preface of a book on old age by Italian Cardinal Angelo Scola.
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Michelle Tea’s Valencia, with a foreword by Maggie Nelson, is available now from Serpent’s Tail.
    Michelle Tea June 18, Literary Hub, 18 June 2025
  • In between ex-Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic’s foreword and Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel’s afterword is guest commentary from Patti Smith, Simple Minds’ Jim Kerr, Van Morrison, Nile Rodgers, Nancy Sinatra and others.
    David Chiu, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Preamble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preamble. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.

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