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
Li said Sunday that the parties had brokered a preliminary framework for a trade truce including new provisions regarding China’s export controls and safeguards against the smuggling of fentanyl and its chemical precursors.
—
Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 27 Oct. 2025
The team’s innovation focuses on Surface Immobilized Electrides, a new type of material made by attaching solvated electron precursors to stable surfaces like diamond and silicon carbide.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
Research into ancient and Indigenous traditions about nature can turn up precursors of modern scientific discoveries and theories.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
After all, improvements require changes, and changes aren’t a luxury these pricey precursors can afford.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2025
The beans are typically piled in wooden boxes or baskets, in which bacteria and fungi break down the beans’ pulpy coating, producing chemicals that generate flavor precursors within the beans.
—New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2025
By the late 2010s, the precursors of ChatGPT, Gemini, and DALL-E were spluttering to life, making real the future that the Army had envisioned in World War II.
—Angus Fletcher, Big Think, 29 Sep. 2025
And the precursors for that reality may already be in motion, Metzger noted.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
While every relationship faces challenges, certain patterns consistently appear as precursors to deeper dysfunction.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 27 Oct. 2025
The team’s innovation focuses on Surface Immobilized Electrides, a new type of material made by attaching solvated electron precursors to stable surfaces like diamond and silicon carbide.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
Research into ancient and Indigenous traditions about nature can turn up precursors of modern scientific discoveries and theories.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
After all, improvements require changes, and changes aren’t a luxury these pricey precursors can afford.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2025
The beans are typically piled in wooden boxes or baskets, in which bacteria and fungi break down the beans’ pulpy coating, producing chemicals that generate flavor precursors within the beans.
—New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2025
By the late 2010s, the precursors of ChatGPT, Gemini, and DALL-E were spluttering to life, making real the future that the Army had envisioned in World War II.
—Angus Fletcher, Big Think, 29 Sep. 2025
And the precursors for that reality may already be in motion, Metzger noted.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
While every relationship faces challenges, certain patterns consistently appear as precursors to deeper dysfunction.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precursors
Noun
-
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
-
The same knowing that my ancestors must have held, that beauty and resilience are not separate things.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Ludwig’s distant paternal ancestors were in fact German Jewish merchants, not warlike princes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Your symptoms may be caused by only some fibrous foods or by non-fiber foods.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Due to the snowy, windy weather, the hikers were rescued in various conditions, with symptoms ranging from exhaustion to hypothermia.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
These could be harbingers of bigger things to come.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
In 2017, the angels (who requested anonymity) attracted other donors, which enabled the school to finally return employees to normal salaries, cover tuition for needy students, acquire improvements, such as technology for students and teachers, and offer new courses, including art and music.—
Jan Goldsmith,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Stephens said there were signs of a struggle, and Thomas' body had been dragged about 180 feet into the woods.—
Bill Bowden,
Arkansas Online,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Earlier images of the Sichuan showed the catapult covers removed and a radar array installed, signs that the vessel was nearing sea trial readiness.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The indie feature heralds from Benacus Entertainment and RNF Productions.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
14 Oct. 2025
-
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
-
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 29 Oct. 2025.
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