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prototype

noun

ˈprō-tə-ˌtīp How to pronounce prototype (audio)
Definition of prototypenext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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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 prototype For this particular prototype, Freedom then mounted a two-person wedge-style rooftop tent directly to the integrated mounting panels on the roof. — New Atlas, 17 Sep. 2026 The show will be arranged in spatial layouts, with prototypes and drawings realized in variations of a translucent, veil-like mesh, which Throup has long used as a metaphor for identity and concealment. — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026 In some ways, King — the organization’s minor-league hitter of the year and now a consensus top-100 prospect — serves almost as a prototype of what a Washington Nationals prospect looks like in 2026. — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026 The first Amor was a bespoke steel prototype built to be tested out in real-world conditions. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prototype
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prototype
  1. example
  2. forerunner
  3. original
  4. sample
  5. precursor
  6. specimen
  7. ancestor
  8. instance
Noun
  • The Sox need only look in the opposite dugout for an example.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The Gates Foundation spokesperson said a goal of the commitment is to help see accelerated learning and to help students catch up, one example being using the tool to give students more repetition and practice.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of example
Noun
  • Dubbed the ‘American Turtle’ for its appearance, the submarine made three attempts to blow up British ships without success, but is considered the forerunner of modern submarines.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Margaret and Alice are the forerunners of Lucy and Ethel, and Shakespeare’s comedy, written expressly to entertain, gives us a sense of what an Elizabethan-era situation comedy might look like.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
Definition of forerunner
Noun
  • Al Marri suggested in her announcement that the new festival will not be in exactly the same vein as the original, which was known for its glitzy red carpets, industry events, and openness to films pushing the social and political envelope.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026
  • In his new role Earley will lead strategic development for Disney Entertainment’s TV franchises, as well as content and production for international originals, production, labor relations and creative talent development.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of original
Noun
  • Researchers led by Wang Youjie at Huazhong University of Science and Technology analyzed urine samples from 4,891 women who gave birth at Wuhan Maternal and Child Health Hospital between 2012 and 2014.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Lawn maintenance should always include taking regular soil samples to determine nutrient needs, as well as proper watering, weed and disease control, and mowing practices.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of sample
Noun
  • Amid rising geopolitical tensions and a murky economic outlook, anxiety is clocking into work, producing false positives in productivity that look like engagement, but are actually a precursor to costly attrition and reputation loss.
    — Stacey Zolt Hara, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Nonetheless, Alford’s departure could be interpreted as a potential precursor to Norvell’s eventual replacement.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of precursor
Noun
  • The technology enables the scanning of objects to create thousands of X-rays, resulting in 3D renderings that can peer inside structures without damaging specimens — such as the inside of a snake’s tail.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Holotype specimens serve as a main standard-bearer and reference point for the physical characteristics of a species, so that scientists can compare and contrast them to see if a specimen belongs to one species or another.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of specimen
Noun
  • The group includes people whose ancestors come from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The Maori tell a story about how a godwit showed their ancestors the way from their ancient homeland of Hawaiki to New Zealand, more than a thousand miles away.
    — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of ancestor
Noun
  • In many instances no pruning is required, as the tree regrows needed limbs.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Adkins said that in all three instances, the model ceased its hacking.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of instance

Browse Nearby Words

protocols
prototype
prototypes
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Cite this Entry

“Prototype.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prototype. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on prototype

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about prototype

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