prototypes

Definition of prototypesnext
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 Panthalassa has already tested several earlier prototypes of the wave energy converter technology, including the Ocean-1 in 2021 and the Ocean-2 that underwent a three-week sea trial off the coast of Washington state in February 2024. Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 5 May 2026 Given it was going to be a big show, Joey Gee began patterning early prototypes of hats and accessories with her assistant in February. Kansas City Star, 4 May 2026 Interestingly, researchers developed functional prototypes, such as temperature-sensitive active filters and multi-object grippers. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 May 2026 In this vision, the athletes are both the test subjects and the proof of concept—human prototypes. Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 30 Apr. 2026 After numerous prototypes, the Three Musketeers had finally built the car that physics demanded. Bill Gourgey, Popular Science, 29 Apr. 2026 One thing that won’t be available for purchase, though, are the intellectual property and prototypes of the B1 and B2. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 29 Apr. 2026 Manufacturers have already displayed their prototypes in Miami, showcasing to business executives and investors their sleek design and ambitious promise to save residents time while moving aviation in a more climate-friendly direction. Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026 The presentations include prototypes, demonstrations and research findings developed over the semester. Nick Lunemann, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prototypes
Noun
  • As examples go, many clubs in Italy could do worse than follow Sassuolo, particularly at a time when there is so much gloom about the state of the game in the bel paese.
    James Horncastle, New York Times, 7 May 2026
  • Both nations represent the best examples of Western civilization.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 6 May 2026
Noun
  • Even the Hammurabi Code, a set of laws created by the sixth Babylonian king in approximately 1760 bce, established forerunners of today’s interest rate and minimum wage laws.
    Chris Roush, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Apr. 2026
  • The Norwegian ended his season before the Olympics to further recover from a shoulder injury, but attended the finals as one of the forerunners, who test a course shortly before a race starts.
    ABC News, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The list was mostly made up for the originals and the three prequels, with a couple Disney TV installments (Andor) mixed in.
    Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
  • The Switch 2's Joy-Con 2 controllers feel similar to the originals and have almost identical designs.
    Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 8 May 2026
Noun
  • All hamburger samples will be served as half-portions (3 ounces), and event proceeds will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities.
    Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
  • These have all been opportunistic samples from taxidermists.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • And then, thanks to the precursors to the storm that ultimately ended the first round early — the wind, above all else — the weather made the last few shots on the course brutal.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 8 May 2026
  • Particularly, single-source precursors — essentially all-in-one starter molecules — were used to observe the material’s transformation step by step.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential negotiations.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
  • But sources inside the island involved in delivering the aid, who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation, said the Catholic Church’s infrastructure would not be able to handle a massive influx of humanitarian aid.
    Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 8 May 2026
Noun
  • An expert might spend dozens of hours manually analyzing a microscope slide and find only a fraction of the thousands of specimens present.
    Ingrid C. Romero, The Conversation, 5 May 2026
  • Despite their aging heart, the sharks seemed quite able to get around—some of the specimens in the study were collected by longline fishing in Greenland waters, suggesting the sharks could find bait and successfully capture it.
    Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 4 May 2026
Noun
  • The group of 80-some species has ancestors going back tens of millions of years, originating in Asia.
    Craig Stanford, Big Think, 7 May 2026
  • The Declaration had many ancestors.
    Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 4 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Prototypes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prototypes. Accessed 12 May. 2026.

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