as in to foreshadow
to give a slight indication of beforehand
the first crocus traditionally prefigures the arrival of spring
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 prefigure
Chess by telegraph also prefigured chess played through other means of telecommunications.
—
IEEE Spectrum, 11 Dec. 2025
Tragedy strikes many times in this decades-spanning story, in many forms, but the defining event of Grainier’s life sees his home burned to the ground, an event that eerily prefigures the LA fires of early 2025.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 8 Nov. 2025
The dynamic prefigured the White House of Bush 43, which the Veep largely staffed, and substantially dominated.
—Karl Vick, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
These opulent volumes prefigure the label’s high jewelry offering.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prefigure
IEEE Spectrum, 11 Dec. 2025
Tragedy strikes many times in this decades-spanning story, in many forms, but the defining event of Grainier’s life sees his home burned to the ground, an event that eerily prefigures the LA fires of early 2025.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 8 Nov. 2025
The dynamic prefigured the White House of Bush 43, which the Veep largely staffed, and substantially dominated.
—Karl Vick, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
These opulent volumes prefigure the label’s high jewelry offering.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prefigure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prefigure
Verb
-
Bathrooms are expansive and clad in white marble, foreshadowing the scale of the sublime spa across the street.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The moment was foreshadowed a week earlier when Gritty posted a photo on TikTok of the Penguins’ mascot.—
Ryan Brennan
April 23,
Kansas City Star,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That’s why looking at birthrates alone to predict the capacity needs of pediatric hospitals isn’t enough, Quiroga said.—
Suzanne King,
Kansas City Star,
2 May 2026
-
House Speaker Matt Ritter of Hartford – one of the top vote-counters at the Capitol – had predicted 115 to 120 votes in favor of the budget, which passed with 127 votes.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Sankar also noted that Seagate’s June quarter outlook implies a gross margin of about 50%.—
TipRanks.com Staff,
CNBC,
3 May 2026
-
Rather than implying ignorance, the silence becomes a constraint.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
The owner of a long-standing and once heralded senior housing project is seeking to have the age restriction removed, telling town zoning officials such a move is in keeping with shifts in the Connecticut housing market.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
4 May 2026
-
Every new Raider is heralded for their high character, with several being multiple-time team captains.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
The highway district’s letter said the development is anticipated to be fully built out by 2040.—
Rose Evans
May 3,
Idaho Statesman,
3 May 2026
-
The Rules Committee is expected to review the proposals over a series of hearings in May, with a full City Council vote anticipated by June 9 to place any measures on the November ballot.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prefigure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prefigure. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
