as in foreshadows
to give a slight indication of beforehand
the first crocus traditionally prefigures the arrival of spring
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Recent Examples of prefigures
The Kamm tail, with its upturned spoiler and flat panel adorned with Ferrari’s signature twin round taillights, is a nod to aerodynamics that prefigures the shape of the Lusso’s spiritual successor, the 275 GTB.
—
Robert Ross, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2026
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
Robert Ross, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prefigures
Verb
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With almost three years left in his final term, Trump’s absence from CPAC foreshadows his eventual departure as leader of the GOP and the conservative movement, a role typically served by the president or the party’s leading contender for the White House.—
Gromer Jeffers Jr.
Political,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
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The book wonderfully foreshadows one of its best moments, but the film doesn’t do this at all, setting up the action with a few lines of dialog instead.—
Matthew Razak,
Space.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The environmental footprint of data centers already rivals some of the world's largest countries, according to a United Nations University report, which also predicts their water and energy use and pollution will double in just four years as use of artificial intelligence grows.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
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Analyzing 111,000 participants over 30 years, researchers found that variety of exercise independently predicts mortality risk, even after controlling for total activity volume.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
3 June 2026
Verb
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As the title implies, the show trumpets the artist’s idiosyncrasy, which feels ever more at odds with the cultural moment.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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That implies little upside for this now-$312 stock, which hasn’t had a down week since March 20.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Hekt’s debut album heralds a union between the left-field pop scene of his native Copenhagen and the influential Glasgow label Numbers, whose formidable run of 2010s releases—including several landmark SOPHIE singles—has left a neon imprint on the new Danish vanguard.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
1 May 2026
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Baisakhi heralds the beginning of the harvest season in Punjab, and farmers come together to celebrate the abundance provided by nature.—
Tamanna Nangia,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The service Every room comes with a polite butler, who anticipates your every need.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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Barclays also anticipates the company will talk about 50 basis points of annual margin expansion and 10%-plus earnings per share growth.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prefigures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prefigures. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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