prototypes

plural of prototype
1
as in examples
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 forerunners
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 originals
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 prototypes One of the standout prototypes this year was the BMW Alpina, a material manifestation of the marque’s discontent with the status quo. Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 17 Aug. 2026 Developed by Cleora with 3D-printing contractor True North and technology provider RIC Robotics, the project aims to demonstrate that robotic construction can move beyond prototypes and support entire neighborhoods. Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026 Rather than reinventing that formula, the Max 4 scales it up dramatically for users printing items ranging from large cosplay parts to functional prototypes to industrial-style engineering components. Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 15 Aug. 2026 Aerospace has no shortage of impressive prototypes, but the difficult work begins when a company must establish qualified suppliers, repeatable manufacturing processes, configuration control, quality systems, and full-scale production. Alex Krutz, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 At first, that meant fuel cells, but after developing prototypes, JCB concluded the tech was too expensive and too fragile for life on the farm or the construction site. Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2026 Following the development and testing of experimental prototypes, Inditex will support industrial evaluation of the potential of two new materials. Sarah Jones, Footwear News, 10 Aug. 2026 The landing was so gentle, in fact, that Ship 40 appeared to remain airtight and floated in the ocean rather than sinking to the bottom as prior prototypes have. Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026 However, the design has reportedly attracted a number of international awards, and pre-production prototypes have made their way to online reviewers and influencers. New Atlas, 3 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prototypes
Noun
  • While not every meet-cute on set grows into something real, there have been plenty of examples of A-list co-workers entering into successful relationships.
    Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Seven examples were recently collected from Pacific waters 2 to 3 miles deep near the Cook Islands, and the teeth were as big as 5 inches in length, NOAA Ocean Exploration noted in a news release.
    Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 16 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • One of the forerunners today in Madeira and the Azores is António Maçanita from Azores Wine Company.
    Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Noun
  • The Select plan, which has ads and doesn’t include sports, movies, or Peacock originals, went from $8/month to $9/month.
    Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Select includes current and past seasons of NBC and Bravo shows and other library content, but no movies, sports or Peacock originals.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Biologists went to the site of the attack and collected samples but no bears were seen.
    Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Both the United States, through the Apollo missions, and the Soviet Union delivered lunar samples to Earth more than 50 years ago, greatly shaping research on and understanding of the moon.
    Andrew Jones, Space.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The ideology of Third Worldism and the New Agey, anything-goes-style progressivism of the West Coast that Naipaul so keenly lacerates were necessary precursors to the mass death in Guyana.
    James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Jack Kilby, the inventor of the integrated circuit, or microchip, and the handheld calculator—early precursors of AI.
    Jordan Blum, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Now, multiple sources told CBS California Investigates that the governor's office plans to veto AB 1608.
    Julie Watts, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Meanwhile, sources inside the organization said the Walter regime prioritized immediate profits over long-term infrastructure investments.
    Chris Branch, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Prior to the 1830s, the plant specimens curated at private herbariums were few in number.
    Candace Barone, Florida Times-Union, 15 Aug. 2026
  • But the 16 bacteria-infecting viruses described on August 6 in Science were no ordinary specimens.
    Elie Dolgin, IEEE Spectrum, 13 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • His ancestors moved there in the 1850's, and their photos and other archives are preserved inside the Roseville Historical Society museum.
    James Taylor, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • This response was presumably adaptive to prevent our ancestors from becoming underweight but is disastrous for today’s dieters.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Prototypes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prototypes. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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