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
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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
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Recent Examples of precursors
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
Tarnopolsky recommends against the precursors since much more evidence supports the finished product.
—Matt Fuchs, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
The moniker is a significant honor within the program and is bestowed upon the player who best exemplifies the values identified as precursors for success, both on and off the field.
—Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
The robotic design allows Rainbow to test a broader range of chemical precursors, which increases the chances of discovering novel and high-performing quantum dots.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2025
These compounds are typically synthesized from plant precursors, such as molecules derived from yams or soy, and formulated to mimic endogenous hormones.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
James Morgan, 33, pleaded guilty on April 21 in federal court in Milwaukee to one count of possession of chemical weapon precursors — or chemicals that combine to create chlorine and chlorine gas, court records show.
—Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 4 Aug. 2025
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
Tarnopolsky recommends against the precursors since much more evidence supports the finished product.
—Matt Fuchs, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
The moniker is a significant honor within the program and is bestowed upon the player who best exemplifies the values identified as precursors for success, both on and off the field.
—Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
The robotic design allows Rainbow to test a broader range of chemical precursors, which increases the chances of discovering novel and high-performing quantum dots.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2025
These compounds are typically synthesized from plant precursors, such as molecules derived from yams or soy, and formulated to mimic endogenous hormones.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
James Morgan, 33, pleaded guilty on April 21 in federal court in Milwaukee to one count of possession of chemical weapon precursors — or chemicals that combine to create chlorine and chlorine gas, court records show.
—Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precursors
Noun
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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
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In 2024, some 75 representatives gathered in Pegli, near Genoa, their ancestors’ home.—
Miquel Ros,
CNN Money,
7 Oct. 2025
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This season opens a portal for honoring ancestors, embracing transformation, and connecting to the unseen.—
Raquel Reichard,
Refinery29,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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When quitting feels like the only option For Khris Rogers, the symptoms that consumed her during perimenopause stole her ability to keep her job.—
Laura Trujillo,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Air pollution could worsen Alzheimer’s and dementia symptoms, according to a new study.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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One of the most worrisome harbingers of future affordability is that Florida added more than 700,000 units with gross rents higher than $1,200 monthly between 2012 and 2022.—
Jeffrey Steele,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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With its references to holy water and angels, its spiritual elements have also broadened its appeal.—
Melinda Newman,
Billboard,
1 Oct. 2025
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The round is led by Daman Investments, with other investors including Cartography Capital, Epic Angels, Wahed Ventures, Accelerate Prosperity and several business angels.—
David Prosser,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In addition to the cut-through traffic prohibitions for trucks on residential streets, city staff will work with the City Council on ordinance revisions to strengthen penalties on truck operators and owners who do not comply with signs and restrictions.—
Keith Matheny,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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Fellow wide receivers Chris Marshall and Cam Bates came over to celebrate with Brown before realizing he was still hunched over the ball and showed no signs of getting up.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Pic heralds from Deadpool and John Wick director David Leitch and Bullet Train producer Kelly McCormick’s 87North, and Bill Bindley and Mike Karz’s Gulfstream Pictures (Upgraded), which financed the movie.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
8 Sep. 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 9 Oct. 2025.
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