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
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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
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Recent Examples of prelude
Chopin's major piano works include mazurkas, waltzes, nocturnes, polonaises, the instrumental ballade (which Chopin created as an instrumental genre), études, impromptus, scherzi, preludes, and sonatas, some published only posthumously.
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New Atlas, 9 June 2025
That served as a prelude to Tim Anderson smashing his own two-run shot off Zack Britton in the bottom of the inning to send the White Sox home winners.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 30 May 2025
And treat every phase not as prelude to the final answer but as a source of directional learning.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
The Federalists believed that Jeffersonian newspapers were printing pro-French propaganda as a prelude to a full-fledged French invasion and that Democratic-Republicans may have been collaborating with the French government.
—Richard Stengel, Time, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for prelude
New Atlas, 9 June 2025
That served as a prelude to Tim Anderson smashing his own two-run shot off Zack Britton in the bottom of the inning to send the White Sox home winners.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 30 May 2025
And treat every phase not as prelude to the final answer but as a source of directional learning.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
The Federalists believed that Jeffersonian newspapers were printing pro-French propaganda as a prelude to a full-fledged French invasion and that Democratic-Republicans may have been collaborating with the French government.
—Richard Stengel, Time, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for prelude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prelude
Noun
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Suffice to say that Boyle and Garland maintain their pop-cultural savvy to the end, and that none of their characters’ names—watch the prologue carefully—have been chosen idly.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
25 June 2025
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This occurs during a prologue in which a narrator describes the relationship between the blues and the spirit world.—
Bill Desowitz,
IndieWire,
20 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Asian lagers, a newer category, continue to increase in entrants since their introduction just two years ago.—
Erik Ofgang,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Key to England’s shift in momentum in the knockouts was the introduction of Birmingham City’s Jay Stansfield to the starting line-up.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
Noun
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Today's listen Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The Scripps National Spelling Bee is celebrating its 100th anniversary this week, with preliminaries kicking off last night.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
28 May 2025
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Sports High School Sports News See who qualified from Thursday's preliminaries for the CIFSS Division 1 finals on Saturday at Mt. SAC.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
8 May 2025
Noun
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Recommended Stories The 2028 Democratic presidential field begins to take shape at a low point for the party Embarrassing displays of media blindness Trump tariffs: Bargaining tool or preface to a global trade war?—
Carson Becker,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2025
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The funeral of Pope Francis: Even in death, Pope Francis is breaking with tradition for his funeral and burial Prior to his hospitalization, Pope Francis wrote about death in the preface of a book on old age by Italian Cardinal Angelo Scola.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The revelation has prompted outrage in Colombia and concern abroad, especially given the apparent overtures to foreign politicians and the suggestion that criminal networks could play a role in the country’s leadership transition.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
30 June 2025
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The person and his wife have now made several overtures toward reconciling with us.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
20 June 2025
Noun
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Richard O’Brien, who wrote the musical stage show in 1973, wrote the foreword for the book.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
24 June 2025
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Kennedy wrote the foreword to Lies My Gov’t Told Me and wrote an endorsement for PsyWar, alleging that the same techniques that the Malones described shaped public reaction to the assassinations of his father and uncle.—
Tom Bartlett,
The Atlantic,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prelude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prelude. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
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