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
Relevance
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
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 precursors
The results reveal a previously unknown pathway for building protein precursors that does not require liquid water—long thought to be essential—that can operate in the extreme conditions of interstellar space.
—
Victoria Corless, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Something that this new reality is forcing all of us to contemplate is whether or not any of the Oscar precursors — the award shows that precede the Oscars, and often claim to predict them — still provide any real sense of where the Academy is headed.
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 Jan. 2026
Polish police released footage of the operation showing dozens of drums and tanks containing the precursors stored in various warehouses, as well as processing labs raided by heavily armed investigators.
—CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Helpfully, the precursors have provided two different visions of what that might look like.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2026
Its supply chain spans continents — chemical precursors from China, synthesized in Mexico, and transported across the southern border in quantities small enough to evade traditional enforcement — before spreading into communities far from any border.
—Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026
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
Victoria Corless, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Something that this new reality is forcing all of us to contemplate is whether or not any of the Oscar precursors — the award shows that precede the Oscars, and often claim to predict them — still provide any real sense of where the Academy is headed.
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 Jan. 2026
Polish police released footage of the operation showing dozens of drums and tanks containing the precursors stored in various warehouses, as well as processing labs raided by heavily armed investigators.
—CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Helpfully, the precursors have provided two different visions of what that might look like.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2026
Its supply chain spans continents — chemical precursors from China, synthesized in Mexico, and transported across the southern border in quantities small enough to evade traditional enforcement — before spreading into communities far from any border.
—Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precursors
Noun
-
With little support for the WHO among Republicans — who control both the House and the Senate — there has been no push from Congress to hold the country to the provision set out by their forerunners.—
Helen Branswell,
STAT,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Like these forerunners, the pleasures of Knight’s A Thousand Blows, which premiered all six episodes of its second season on Hulu Friday, lies in looking back on that thin sliver of time, about 15 years ago, when anachronistic old-timey crime was in vogue.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There’s an urge to reconnect with our heritage, and people are undertaking ancestry pilgrimages, combining boots-on-the-ground investigation into family trees and searching for documents in town halls, with discovering the places our ancestors used to call home.—
Alex Ledsom,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Gibson is passionate about introducing fans to underrepresented voices and tipping her cap to the mothers, grandmothers, and other ancestors who inspired us all along the way.—
Karla Walsh,
Southern Living,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The most common symptoms of colorectal cancer include persistent changes in bowel habits, unfinished bowel habits, rectal bleeding or blood in stool, abdominal pain or discomfort, unexplained weight loss and fatigue.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
31 Jan. 2026
-
In California, a pet bitten by a potential rabies carrier, such as the wild coyote that attacked Kyle, must complete a 6-month isolation period to monitor for rabies symptoms during the disease's incubation period.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Eclipses are harbingers of change, often bringing intense shifts in perspective and catapulting us into new realities.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Few harbingers are more promising than the Swedish singer and producer Robyn.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
26 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
When founders communicate with confidence and clarity, angels are often able to see the opportunity more easily and feel more secure backing the vision.—
William Jones,
AZCentral.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Fallible humans, not just angels, should have a chance, too.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The girls seemed to be having a great time during these performances, interacting with fans by reacting to their costumes and signs, and creating a Candybong wave.—
Laura Sirikul,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Many marchers also referenced the killing of Renee Nicole Good, with signs honoring both victims and calling for accountability.—
Eva Andersen,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
New studies, however, clearly show that medical marijuana is not nearly as effective as the pro-marijuana lobby heralds.—
Mike Gimbel,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Jan. 2026
-
The indie feature heralds from Benacus Entertainment and RNF Productions.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
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 5 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
