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
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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
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Recent Examples of prelude
In Danis Tanovic’s underseen drama, Farrell plays an Irish war photographer who gets separated from his best friend and colleague in Iraqi Kurdistan in the prelude to Saddam Hussein’s 1988 extermination campaign against the Kurds.
—
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
At first, the scene feels like an engrossing, elevating prelude.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 Oct. 2025
The campaign to defund the arts, capture our museums, and rewrite our history is a prelude to silencing dissent itself.
—Andrew Weinstein, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
That intervention turned out to be just a prelude.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prelude
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
At first, the scene feels like an engrossing, elevating prelude.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 Oct. 2025
The campaign to defund the arts, capture our museums, and rewrite our history is a prelude to silencing dissent itself.
—Andrew Weinstein, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
That intervention turned out to be just a prelude.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prelude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prelude
Noun
-
In a prologue—Trier is unfashionably fond of them—a young girl who lives there, Nora, describes the place with a tender, anthropomorphizing curiosity.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
-
After an awesomely hokey prologue that deprives Det.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The storytelling around super shoes comes naturally, as most of the biggest breakthroughs in running technology have come from the category since its introduction in 2016.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
11 Nov. 2025
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His first introduction to an instrument was by his pianist mother, on the piano at age 3, until switching to the cello a year later and studying under his father’s guidance.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Santana finished a weak fourth in the preliminary.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
21 Oct. 2025
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In 1988: Greg Louganis won the gold medal in the 3-meter springboard at the Seoul Olympics one day after hitting his head on the diving board during the preliminaries.—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In this edition, translators Ana Martínez and Heather Hennes add a preface and explanatory notes that give additional context to the story.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
-
And to preface, these are optional.—
Bon Appétit,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The overtures backfired, with Sheridan preferring a less corporate approach.—
Tatiana Siegel,
Variety,
4 Nov. 2025
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His campaign has made overtures to Republicans as the only viable candidate for people who don’t want to vote for Mamdani since polling has shown that GOP hopeful Curtis Sliwa is unlikely to be competitive.—
Jenni Fink,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Lukasiak wrote the foreword for her book.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
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The newest ebook edition of Slow Horses author Mick Herron‘s novel Down Cemetery Road begins with a foreword by Emma Thompson.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prelude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prelude. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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