as in forerunner
something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event
the preaching of John the Baptist is generally regarded by Christians as a prefiguring of the ministry of Jesus
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in foreshadowing
to give a slight indication of beforehand
the first crocus traditionally prefigures the arrival of spring
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prefiguring
Noun
-
The group, which includes Chrysler, Fiat, Peugeot and Citroen, is becoming a forerunner in the promising progress of a new type of vehicle battery.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
15 June 2026 -
In 2007, the Oatley family opened Qualia, their 30-acre flagship property and the forerunner of Australia’s luxury lodges.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Instead of foreshadowing the big year that establishes Palencia as an elite closer, the WBC may have added to this season’s choppiness.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
This spring, xAI struck a deal to give Cursor access to its compute infrastructure, foreshadowing similar, larger deals with Anthropic and Google in the future.—
Samuel Axon,
ArsTechnica,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Earth-impacting shrapnel from those primordial upheavals may have helped seed our planet with the precursors for life, delivering water and organic compounds from the dark, icy depths of the outer solar system.—
Lee Billings,
Scientific American,
18 June 2026
-
Scouts and Raiders is billed as telling the true origin story of the WWII commando unit of the same name, a precursor to the Navy SEALs, including its heavy recruitment of collegiate and professional football players.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
There has been an outpouring of support on social media for those who stopped to help, heralding their bravery and selflessness.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 June 2026
-
High-fashion runways have been heralding a skinny jean renaissance in recent seasons, but the trend has not yet trickled into mainstream retail.—
Sarah Jones,
Footwear News,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Sometimes, the departure of an underperforming executive or official presages improvements ahead.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
But a lack of accountability presages failure for California’s big reform.—
Rachel Canter,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Analysts are predicting volatility for the stock as lockup periods end and people sell shares.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
20 June 2026
-
Though global manufacturers have vowed increases in production, experts say the shortfall will continue, with Goldman Sachs predicting undersupply will extend through 2028.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
In the shadows of the long-hut, the elders muttered among themselves—of portents and crops and weather and the storage of grain.—
Maggie O’Farrell,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
That Mann and his daughter, at a posh Frankfurt hotel party, glimpse so many remnants of the Nazi era — including Erika’s ex-husband, who collaborated with the regime — is another portent of darkness.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Strategist Ohsung Kwon raised his year-end S & P 500 target to 7,950, implying upside of more than 5% from Monday's close.—
Fred Imbert,
CNBC,
16 June 2026
-
Worries about neighborhood gentrification, implying a new tourist destination is all downside.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Prefiguring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prefiguring. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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