1
as in forerunners
one that announces or indicates the later arrival of another
18th-century lyric poets like Robert Burns were precursors of the Romantics
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in ancestors
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed
a precursor of the modern eggplant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of precursors
Those materials include sodium perchlorate, ammonium perchlorate precursors and nitrocellulose, all key components in solid-fuel rocket motors.
—
Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 30 Dec. 2025
But as the precursors have rolled in, co-star Benicio Del Toro — playing a character the audience loves and roots for — has swept nearly every major critics group.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 18 Dec. 2025
The movie and the Rutles' two soundtrack albums are considered precursors to Reiner's own 1984 mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, a comedy that follows a fictional heavy metal band called Spinal Tap.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025
Still, there are ways to support the function of its precursors and improve mitochondrial function.
—Vogue, 12 Dec. 2025
Drug policy experts say that much of the fentanyl that feeds the American market is smuggled in from Mexico, but that the precursors for making the synthetic opioid are made in China.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 9 Dec. 2025
People who are malnourished for an extended period of time, have diseases of the GI tract that impair the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, and those whose diet is low in vitamin A or its precursors can develop a deficiency.
—Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 8 Dec. 2025
Oscar contender Train Dreams ($10) continued its strong run through the early precursors and added 50 points via four nominations (Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography, and a lead-performance nomination for Joel Edgerton).
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
The interaction between Hillary Galkin-Griffith from Three Hills Winery and Carol Erenyi, visiting for the weekend from Laguna Niguel with her husband, was typical of those whose wine tastings were precursors to future winery visits.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025
Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 30 Dec. 2025
But as the precursors have rolled in, co-star Benicio Del Toro — playing a character the audience loves and roots for — has swept nearly every major critics group.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 18 Dec. 2025
The movie and the Rutles' two soundtrack albums are considered precursors to Reiner's own 1984 mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, a comedy that follows a fictional heavy metal band called Spinal Tap.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025
Still, there are ways to support the function of its precursors and improve mitochondrial function.
—Vogue, 12 Dec. 2025
Drug policy experts say that much of the fentanyl that feeds the American market is smuggled in from Mexico, but that the precursors for making the synthetic opioid are made in China.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 9 Dec. 2025
People who are malnourished for an extended period of time, have diseases of the GI tract that impair the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, and those whose diet is low in vitamin A or its precursors can develop a deficiency.
—Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 8 Dec. 2025
Oscar contender Train Dreams ($10) continued its strong run through the early precursors and added 50 points via four nominations (Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography, and a lead-performance nomination for Joel Edgerton).
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
The interaction between Hillary Galkin-Griffith from Three Hills Winery and Carol Erenyi, visiting for the weekend from Laguna Niguel with her husband, was typical of those whose wine tastings were precursors to future winery visits.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precursors
Noun
-
The primacy of a central meeting space can be traced to the Greek Empire with the agora, among other forerunners.—
Jeanne Bonner,
CNN Money,
19 Dec. 2025
-
Compared to their forerunners in the tsarist era, with their party congresses held abroad, their executive committees, and their active recruitment in imperial Russia’s universities, Soviet dissidents remained a comparatively small and informal conglomeration of activists.—
Benjamin Nathans
September 24,
Literary Hub,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Her ancestors were from Russia, who later fled to Ukraine and settled in Philadelphia.—
Colleen Kratofil,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The idea was to go back to the basic foods that their ancestors ate.—
Chrystle Fiedler,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The National Institutes of Health has tips for managing symptoms, including limiting alcohol and caffeine, and maintaining a healthy body weight.—
Allison Aubrey,
NPR,
11 Nov. 2025
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In addition, Peri will continue to look at how perimenopause and its symptoms correlate with risk for conditions like cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s.—
Emily Burns,
Footwear News,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The surfers, initially viewed by some as welcome curiosities and by others as nuisances, became harbingers of economic salvation through tourism, now the dominant industry, though still a relatively new one.—
David Amsden,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
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Keep an eye on these state elections Could these statewide elections be harbingers of what's to come in the 2026 midterms?—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
According to Heuisler, after 21 years in barrels the whiskey stood at about 110 proof, and only about a quarter of the liquid actually remained after decades of the angels drinking their share.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Reeves gives life to John Constantine, a chain-smoking cynic with the ability to perceive the true visage of half-angels and half-demons.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Trade discussions dominated those meetings, but there were signs of growing tensions over Beijing’s surging conventional and nuclear arsenal.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Thanks to their thoughtful preservation efforts, signs of the past remain.—
Mel Studach,
Architectural Digest,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The indie feature heralds from Benacus Entertainment and RNF Productions.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
14 Oct. 2025
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Thy Kingdom Come’s entrance heralds 10 total appearances for the album’s tracks on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.—
Trevor Anderson,
Billboard,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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His deputies and outriders are not quite so deft.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
21 Sep. 2025
-
Churchill Downs outriders, jockey agents, jockeys Florent Geroux and Julian Leperoux, as well as members of Lukas' barn staff also sat in the crowd.—
Stephanie Kuzydym,
Louisville Courier Journal,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Precursors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precursors. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
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