1
as in example
one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like a literary character who is regarded as the prototype of the fanatical and intolerant pursuer of justice

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2
as in forerunner
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed the Greek epic that is the prototype of the hero myth

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3
as in original
something from which copies are made the manufacturer exhaustively tested the prototype of the vehicle before approving production

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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 prototype The more advanced Starship prototype will be outfitted with upgrades essential for long-duration missions deep into space, according to SpaceX. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025 The deal follows news of an autonomous Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) prototype slated to be demonstrated in 2026 for the US Army's Armored Brigade Combat Team. Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2025 He unclasps a prototype and peers inside. Nathan Heller, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2025 Based on these discoveries, researchers – including these Nobel Prize recipients and their research groups – have made significant achievements in constructing prototype quantum computers using superconducting quantum circuits in the decades since. Zhixin Wang, The Conversation, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prototype
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prototype
Noun
  • Sea star wasting disease is a rare example of a fast and coordinated response to a marine epidemic.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 17 Oct. 2025
  • This is also a great time to marvel at other examples of the city’s architecture, like the Catedral de Mallorca, a cathedral towering over the city skyline and the Llotja de Palma, a 15th-century Gothic guildhall that frequently hosts art exhibitions.
    Emilio Parra Doiztua, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Half of those tested had osteoporosis or a forerunner condition, osteopenia.
    The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Compared to their forerunners in the tsarist era, with their party congresses held abroad, their executive committees, and their active recruitment in imperial Russia’s universities, Soviet dissidents remained a comparatively small and informal conglomeration of activists.
    Benjamin Nathans September 24, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The hedges surrounding the UGA football field today might not be the exact same shrubs from 96 years ago, but they’ve been propagated from the originals planted in 1929, preserving the continuity and lineage.
    Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Released in 2023 with Cooper himself fronting the campaign, the aptly named Tambour Steel is a sporty riff on the 2002 original.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The team analyzed genetic material to identify the bacteria and fungi present in the samples.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Participants self-reported their mental health symptoms and soda intake, and researchers analyzed stool samples to assess their gut bacteria.
    Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The beans are typically piled in wooden boxes or baskets, in which bacteria and fungi break down the beans’ pulpy coating, producing chemicals that generate flavor precursors within the beans.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2025
  • At the same time, Ohtani’s preparing for a chance to clinch the team’s second consecutive NL pennant, the precursor of repeating as World Series champions.
    Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The specimens ranged in age and size.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Much of her work involved mounting plant specimens on archival paper for storage.
    Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • One theory points to Buddhist monks, who would light lanterns on the 15th day of the holiday to honor Buddha—an act that evolved into a way for families to pay tribute to ancestors.
    Sarah Buder, AFAR Media, 20 Oct. 2025
  • First Alert 4 reported that this counterfeit note was marked as ancestor money, a symbolic bill burned as a ritual offering in Chinese culture.
    Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Politico counted 251 instances of derogatory insults in the group chat, interspersed with logistical conversations about social media strategies and collecting votes.
    Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2025
  • To review or object to instances where our partners assert a legitimate interest in utilizing your data, please visit our vendors page.
    Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Prototype.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prototype. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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