as in to foreshadow
to give a slight indication of beforehand
the first crocus traditionally prefigures the arrival of spring
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prefigure
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
The widescreen, 35mm format prefigured IMAX and other high-density imagery in a way that still stuns on screen.
—John Wenzel, The Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2025
It is also prefigured (another Biblical device) by Pharaoh’s order, in Exodus, to kill all male babies born to Hebrew mothers.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
Its extreme hostility to the very idea of liberal governance, its skepticism of democracy, and its faith in the primacy of the wealthy over the law all prefigured the way that Trump and Elon Musk would assail key functions of government in 2025.
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
See All Example Sentences for prefigure
Jose Valentino Ruiz, The Conversation, 13 June 2025
The widescreen, 35mm format prefigured IMAX and other high-density imagery in a way that still stuns on screen.
—John Wenzel, The Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2025
It is also prefigured (another Biblical device) by Pharaoh’s order, in Exodus, to kill all male babies born to Hebrew mothers.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
Its extreme hostility to the very idea of liberal governance, its skepticism of democracy, and its faith in the primacy of the wealthy over the law all prefigured the way that Trump and Elon Musk would assail key functions of government in 2025.
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
See All Example Sentences for prefigure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prefigure
Verb
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The news division also laid off about one hundred people earlier this week, though the cuts were foreshadowed months ago, well before Weiss was hired.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
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The film’s most unsettling scenes connect Hans' murder spree with the bloodlust of the German public, foreshadowing the Nazis’ rise to power just a few years later.—
Katie Rife,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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China has agreed to allow the export of chips critical to auto production, averting widespread shutdowns that had been predicted by the industry.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
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Due to these supply challenges of the Thanksgiving birds, AFBF predicts turkey prices will be up 40 percent from 2024.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Some autoimmune diseases also can remit on their own for reasons that remain unclear, implying that not every patient may require lifelong therapy.—
Jason Liebowitz,
The Atlantic,
4 Nov. 2025
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This tells us that if P being true implies Q being true, then Q being false implies P also must be false.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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From the time the practice became a significant industry in the 18th century to its official ban in 1986, whale hunters were heralded with songs and literature celebrating their exploits.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
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The November full moon is upon us, heralding a spectacular natural light show as the largest supermoon of 2025 takes to the sky near the peak of the Southern Taurid meteor shower, which is known for producing dramatic fireball shooting stars.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The institute also launched a wastewater surveillance project, geared at monitoring and anticipating disease trends in communities.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
26 Oct. 2025
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Here’s an example from early on in their epic duel, as Carreras anticipates Ronald Araujo’s pass into Yamal, and is quick to close him down in frame one.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prefigure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prefigure. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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