as in to foreshadow
to give a slight indication of beforehand
the first crocus traditionally prefigures the arrival of spring
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Recent Examples of prefigure
Your 2018 book, The Lies That Bind, seems to have prefigured the backlash against a certain way of talking about identity—as essential or at least fixed—that was prevalent in the 2010s.
—
Lula Konner, The New York Review of Books, 4 Oct. 2025
And another is how aspects of our future may be prefigured in the desert’s past.
—Literary Hub, 3 Oct. 2025
Andersen’s story may have prefigured this moment, although no major actor in the war wants to be the boy.
—Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
This early embrace of mechanical rhythm prefigured what would later become a foundation of hip-hop and electronic music.
—Jose Valentino Ruiz, The Conversation, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prefigure
Lula Konner, The New York Review of Books, 4 Oct. 2025
And another is how aspects of our future may be prefigured in the desert’s past.
—Literary Hub, 3 Oct. 2025
Andersen’s story may have prefigured this moment, although no major actor in the war wants to be the boy.
—Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
This early embrace of mechanical rhythm prefigured what would later become a foundation of hip-hop and electronic music.
—Jose Valentino Ruiz, The Conversation, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prefigure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prefigure
Verb
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Erika Kirk’s endorsement of Vice President JD Vance for president in 2028 and the early jockeying by prospective Democratic candidates foreshadow the post-Trump future ahead.—
Colin Pascal,
Baltimore Sun,
12 Jan. 2026
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This is news that Jim foreshadowed to Investing Club members in his first Sunday think piece of the year.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The study by Diversified Energy Specialists predicts that smaller fuel dealers will be negatively affected by the policy more than larger companies.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
14 Jan. 2026
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Not to mention, Pinterest predicts cool blue will be the new millennial pink (Sabrina Carpenter’s already commandeered the shade on and off stage, with Hailey Bieber closely following in some of her streetwear looks).—
Irene Richardson,
InStyle,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Newsom’s interview Monday on MS NOW, the cable channel beloved by Democratic politicians and activist voters, implied anew that his final year as governor will be dominated by his all-but-certain bid for the White House in 2028.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
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Experts, however, caution the situation is much more complicated than the president might imply, and oil stocks lost steam on Tuesday after their Monday rally, undoing some of the previous day’s gains.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Scores of lawmakers and union members heralded the return of the Worker Protection Act in the state Capitol on Thursday, six days before the legislature was set to settle in for its 2026 session.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
8 Jan. 2026
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Mamdani is being heralded as a hero for espousing one of the most destructive ideologies on the planet.—
Nicole Russell,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The high-flying sequel to 2024's box office sensation earned five nominations in total — far fewer than many awards prognosticators had anticipated — but with both Erivo and her costar, Ariana Grande, in contention in acting categories.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Jan. 2026
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There will be increasingly high cloud cover throughout the day, but no precipitation is anticipated.—
Lauren Bostwick,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prefigure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prefigure. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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