1
as in prologue
a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event
an eruption of sectarian violence that proved to be the prelude to all-out civil war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in introduction
a short section (as of a book) that leads to or explains the main part
the musical had a brief prelude to get the audience in the proper mood
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 prelude
Yannick Nézét-Séguin let the prelude speak with minimal fuss, then unspooled the rest of the score with total control, pulling the thread taut, relaxing it, and increasing the tension again, until by the end the orchestra bloomed into rapture.
—
Justin Davidson, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2026
The jet set’s arrival in 1966 made Marrakesh synonymous with hashish-haze chic, yet the glossy-magazine pictures of Yves Saint Laurent in his garden and Talitha Getty on her rooftop were barely a prelude to the barrage of social media posts to come.
—Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
This was the prelude to Kelce’s 13th NFL season.
—Jesse Newell, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
The gathering was a prelude to both the private service for Jackson's family and another commemoration.
—ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prelude
Justin Davidson, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2026
The jet set’s arrival in 1966 made Marrakesh synonymous with hashish-haze chic, yet the glossy-magazine pictures of Yves Saint Laurent in his garden and Talitha Getty on her rooftop were barely a prelude to the barrage of social media posts to come.
—Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
This was the prelude to Kelce’s 13th NFL season.
—Jesse Newell, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
The gathering was a prelude to both the private service for Jackson's family and another commemoration.
—ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prelude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prelude
Noun
-
Alongside the big group numbers characterized by the prologue, Ragtime features intimate solos, duets and trios.—
Manuel Mendoza,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
At the close of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (which, incidentally, features an admirable character called Bottom the Weaver), a play is to be performed for Duke Theseus and his bride, the Amazon Hippolyta, with a prologue spoken by the director.—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
My introduction to soccer came while covering the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the old North American Soccer League as a young sportswriter in the 1970s when the Brazilian star Pelé — still the only player to win three World Cups — played for the New York Cosmos.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The system has introduced a new layer of strategy and drama to baseball, but its introduction has also forced the sport to grapple with a question that never really had a concrete answer until today.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The hockey playoffs weren’t affected by the storm and are expected to start on March 2 with Division II preliminaries.—
Jacob Rousseau,
The Providence Journal,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Switzerland crushed Germany in the men’s curling preliminaries, keeping a consistent lead before ending the game with a score of 8-4.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
And that long preface to editing isn’t helping, Bill Pullman notwithstanding.—
Glenn Whipp,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2026
-
In his preface of the American Legion’s Junior Baseball for 1938 program, Chaillaux noted that 500,000 boys participated in Legion ball.—
Bill Swank,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Altman would follow that with more than a year of overtures to Hollywood in which executives slowly warmed to him.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Protect your energy by responding to social overtures on your schedule — not the world’s.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
What’s a bigger flex than Kim Kardashian writing the foreword to your first book?—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Her most recent, Spent Light, a novel, will be published in the US with McNally Editions in October 2026 with a foreword by Teju Cole.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prelude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prelude. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
