prototypes

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in originals
something from which copies are made the manufacturer exhaustively tested the prototype of the vehicle before approving production

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 prototypes Current prototypes in pipeline NASA is actively turning these concepts into hardware. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026 The plastic components were also largely molded in Hungary, with specialist costume-effects makers developing the initial prototypes. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2026 Gartner found that, on average, only 41% of generative AI prototypes make it into production. — Preeti Singh, Forbes.com, 5 Nov. 2026 The earliest prototypes of the home robot first came out in 2018 and received approval from former Apple CEO Tim Cook to continue the project. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 2 Nov. 2026 Organizers said accompanying information will identify each material’s development stage using Technology Readiness Levels, helping visitors distinguish early prototypes from products already available for commercial use. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2026 After years of renderings, prototypes, and overly optimistic timetables, companies are now flying full-size aircraft, submitting hardware to regulators for certification, building factories, and testing routes with prospective customers. — IEEE Spectrum, 28 Oct. 2026 Federal policy now allows businesses to deduct domestic research costs immediately, leaving more capital available for engineers, prototypes, and equipment. — Rick Lazio, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026 De Jong began building prototypes and models in Los Angeles with her construction coordinator Jonas Kirk. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 22 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prototypes
  1. examples
  2. forerunners
  3. originals
  4. samples
  5. precursors
  6. sources
  7. specimens
  8. ancestors
Noun
  • The scenarios in which these tradeoffs may take place are wide-ranging, with the Anthropic researchers citing opening an auto plant, downsizing a company, and manipulating election sentiment as examples.
    — Trevor Laurence Jockims, CNBC, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Others asked about the lack of Taiwan-specific production examples illustrating copyright disputes and legal responsibilities, given the presentation’s reliance on international cases.
    — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of examples
Noun
  • Rather than try to replicate his forerunners’ styles of success, Ternus has so far played to his own strengths—which are also those of Apple, a company that first and foremost builds beautiful products that spark productivity, creativity, and joy.
    — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 15 Oct. 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 forerunners
Noun
  • On the originals side there is Jack Green (WT) from Men Behaving Badly scribe Simon Nye and starring Jack Davenport (Pirates of the Caribbean).
    — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Sony re-engineered the 23mm drivers with a nod toward the originals' tuning, while keeping in mind that modern listening preferences have changed.
    — Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of originals
Noun
  • The French Blood Establishment ultimately managed to detect the suspicious activity in time to rescue blood samples.
    — Jenna McLaughlin, NPR, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The original ballad samples a Lil Wayne interview from 2009 in a way that is both disjointed and completely enchanting.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of samples
Noun
  • The company says its indigo process uses soluble precursors that oxidize into insoluble pigment within the textile, avoiding the chemical reduction step used in conventional indigo dyeing.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Should tens of thousands of American lives have been saved as a result of decisions made about fentanyl precursors in China, the implications are massive.
    — J. Travis Donahoe, STAT, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of precursors
Noun
  • Losing research capacity weakens our ability to generate the next sources of economic growth.
    — Carole LaBonne, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Depending on the provider and plan, these services can monitor multiple sources of information and send alerts when something needs your attention.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of sources
Noun
  • The agency has fashioned staging areas for heavy equipment by knocking down, uprooting and attempting to transplant select specimens of the monument’s native plants.
    — Ryan Devereaux, ProPublica, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Strength coaches, nutritionists and sophisticated training programs have created extraordinary physical specimens.
    — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of specimens
Noun
  • Throughout the region, remains of 5,500 ancestors that were displaced have been made available for return to the Tohono O’odham Nation, according to ProPublica’s NAGPRA database.
    — Ryan Devereaux, ProPublica, 2 Nov. 2026
  • What began as a personal offering to her ancestors evolved into a recognizable symbol of cultural visibility across the city.
    — Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of ancestors

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prototype
prototypes
protract
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Cite this Entry

“Prototypes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prototypes. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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