as in prelude
a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event
the opening of the performing arts center proved to be a curtain-raiser for the rebirth of the city's downtown
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Recent Examples of curtain-raiser
This image was taken from last season’s curtain-raiser against West Ham United.
—
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 23 July 2025
The Commission’s proposal for the next budget period - which acts as a curtain-raiser for future negotiation and sets the likely tone for what will be the final budget - has already generated a lot of controversy and seen policy analysts scrambling to understand what’s coming.
—Frey Lindsay, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Typically, the kick-off in these early Champions League fixtures is regarded as the curtain-raiser to the new season and a sign that club football is finally back.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 10 July 2025
The curtain-raiser for the FIFA 2025 Club World Cup finished 0-0 between Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami and Al Ahly of Egypt on Saturday night.
—Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
This setting serves as a high-stakes curtain-raiser for the season.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 2 Feb. 2025
The curtain-raiser for the 2025 tennis season.
—Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
Now, that is pretty funny for a piece that was supposed to be a curtain-raiser, and Lynch swatted away my attempts to find out, well, anything at all.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 17 Jan. 2025
Aston Martin alternates six sets of such containers globally in order to reach all 24 races in time, with the Doha shipment already en route to Australia for the 2025 curtain-raiser in March.
—Jack Bantock, CNN, 6 Dec. 2024
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 23 July 2025
The Commission’s proposal for the next budget period - which acts as a curtain-raiser for future negotiation and sets the likely tone for what will be the final budget - has already generated a lot of controversy and seen policy analysts scrambling to understand what’s coming.
—Frey Lindsay, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Typically, the kick-off in these early Champions League fixtures is regarded as the curtain-raiser to the new season and a sign that club football is finally back.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 10 July 2025
The curtain-raiser for the FIFA 2025 Club World Cup finished 0-0 between Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami and Al Ahly of Egypt on Saturday night.
—Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
This setting serves as a high-stakes curtain-raiser for the season.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 2 Feb. 2025
The curtain-raiser for the 2025 tennis season.
—Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
Now, that is pretty funny for a piece that was supposed to be a curtain-raiser, and Lynch swatted away my attempts to find out, well, anything at all.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 17 Jan. 2025
Aston Martin alternates six sets of such containers globally in order to reach all 24 races in time, with the Doha shipment already en route to Australia for the 2025 curtain-raiser in March.
—Jack Bantock, CNN, 6 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curtain-raiser
Noun
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The festival also offers an array of free events, including open rehearsals, conversations with artists, coaching workshops and musical prelude events.—
Beth Wood,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 July 2025
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Last month, the administration brokered a peace deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda — widely seen as a prelude to a rare earth minerals deal.—
Jewel Bright,
NPR,
9 July 2025
Noun
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Today's listen Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The Scripps National Spelling Bee is celebrating its 100th anniversary this week, with preliminaries kicking off last night.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
28 May 2025
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Sports High School Sports News See who qualified from Thursday's preliminaries for the CIFSS Division 1 finals on Saturday at Mt. SAC.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Curtain-raiser.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curtain-raiser. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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