as in introduction
a short section (as of a book) that leads to or explains the main part
a noted critic has written a short preface to her story to explain some of the historical background
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Recent Examples of preface
The preface by historian Abul Fazl frames the work as a reconciliatory project.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026
And that long preface to editing isn’t helping, Bill Pullman notwithstanding.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
In his preface of the American Legion’s Junior Baseball for 1938 program, Chaillaux noted that 500,000 boys participated in Legion ball.
—Bill Swank, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Colbert opened his Monday night broadcast with a preface in light of Reiner’s death, as well as the shootings at Bondi Beach and Brown University.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preface
Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026
And that long preface to editing isn’t helping, Bill Pullman notwithstanding.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
In his preface of the American Legion’s Junior Baseball for 1938 program, Chaillaux noted that 500,000 boys participated in Legion ball.
—Bill Swank, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Colbert opened his Monday night broadcast with a preface in light of Reiner’s death, as well as the shootings at Bondi Beach and Brown University.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preface
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preface
Noun
-
An edible garden by landscape designer Lily Kwong offers overseas travelers an introduction to local plants, like the butterfly pea flower, which is commonly used in Peranakan cuisine, and fragrant pandan, which is harvested for use in some of the hotel’s food and drinks.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
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The introduction of online gaming might just be the catalyst the Lottery needs to jumpstart overall sales.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
Featuring forewords by Beccari and K-pop star Felix, the coffee table tome will be available from June in all Louis Vuitton stores priced at $185, with sales also benefiting UNICEF.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
26 May 2026
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The book carried blurbs from prominent journalists, including Nicholas Thompson, The Atlantic’s chief executive, and a foreword by Maria Ressa, the Nobel Peace Prize–winning reporter from the Philippines.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
One of them, The Eight Hundred, details an important battle during the Second Sino-Japanese War (something of a prologue to WWII), in which Chinese forces defended a strategic warehouse along the river in Shanghai, in full view of Western nations reporting from the opposite bank.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 May 2026
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In the case of small-cap stocks ($250 million market cap or less), past is prologue.—
David Capablanca,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preface.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preface. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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