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
And then, thanks to the precursors to the storm that ultimately ended the first round early — the wind, above all else — the weather made the last few shots on the course brutal.
—
Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 8 May 2026
Particularly, single-source precursors — essentially all-in-one starter molecules — were used to observe the material’s transformation step by step.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 30 Apr. 2026
So does a significant share of the fertilizer precursors and agricultural imports that Gulf states rely on to feed their populations.
—Tenzin Seldon, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
The rise coincides with a recent crackdown by the Chinese government on the sale of precursors used to make fentanyl.
—ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
Mobileye essentially pioneered cameras on cars, creating features such as lane-keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control, precursors to cars driving themselves.
—Chris Anderson, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Iran also spied on Iraqi positions with rudimentary precursors to drones, an early use of one of the regime’s most effective weapons in its attempt to blockade the strait.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
In March, state media reported that China arrested seven people in an operation targeting traffickers of fentanyl precursors, according to the Reuters news agency.
—CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Scientists at Colossal have cultivated primordial germ cells — early precursors to sperm and egg cells — from the pigeon, the dodo’s closest living relative.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 8 May 2026
Particularly, single-source precursors — essentially all-in-one starter molecules — were used to observe the material’s transformation step by step.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 30 Apr. 2026
So does a significant share of the fertilizer precursors and agricultural imports that Gulf states rely on to feed their populations.
—Tenzin Seldon, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
The rise coincides with a recent crackdown by the Chinese government on the sale of precursors used to make fentanyl.
—ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
Mobileye essentially pioneered cameras on cars, creating features such as lane-keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control, precursors to cars driving themselves.
—Chris Anderson, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Iran also spied on Iraqi positions with rudimentary precursors to drones, an early use of one of the regime’s most effective weapons in its attempt to blockade the strait.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
In March, state media reported that China arrested seven people in an operation targeting traffickers of fentanyl precursors, according to the Reuters news agency.
—CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Scientists at Colossal have cultivated primordial germ cells — early precursors to sperm and egg cells — from the pigeon, the dodo’s closest living relative.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precursors
Noun
-
Even the Hammurabi Code, a set of laws created by the sixth Babylonian king in approximately 1760 bce, established forerunners of today’s interest rate and minimum wage laws.—
Chris Roush,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The Norwegian ended his season before the Olympics to further recover from a shoulder injury, but attended the finals as one of the forerunners, who test a course shortly before a race starts.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This is among the most universal pieces of advice from our ancestors.—
Jonathan Haidt,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
-
One by one, group members tearfully thanked their ancestors and poured white rum on the beach.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Schizoaffective disorder is a mental health condition that is marked by a mix of schizophrenia symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, and mood disorder symptoms, such as depression, mania and a milder form of mania called hypomania, per the Mayo Clinic.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
-
Meanwhile, a Spanish woman who was tested for hantavirus after taking the same flight as a patient who died from the disease and displaying symptoms consistent with an infection has tested negative, Spain's health ministry said May 9.—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
If canaries in coal mines were harbingers of safe conditions, surely piping plovers at Waukegan Beach mean the city is overcoming its polluted past.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
In recent years, there have also been reports of vandalism and attacks on robotaxis and delivery robots, which some see as harbingers of a high-tech future not everyone asked for.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Prime Video's fantasy series about angels, demons and good and evil is returning May 13 for what was meant to be a third and final season.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
-
To portray Goliath’s origin story, actors were filmed on green screens and AI was used to generate a mythical sequence involving dark sky, rain, mountains and angels with wings.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
But there are clear signs that Miller has not backed away from his own views on immigration—including on H-2B visas.—
Michael Scherer,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2026
-
And that’s evident in so many facets in museums on Route 66, in neon signs and galleries, on menus that have been there, operating for decades and decades.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
After years of competing for quarters in the arcades, two of the heralds of the video game age are working in tandem.—
Devin Robertson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The movie heralds from FilmNation Entertainment’s production label Infrared, Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions, and Assemble Media.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
18 Feb. 2026
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 16 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
