as in preludes
a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event
the parade down Main Street served as the overture for a weekend of fun and festivities
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Recent Examples of overtures
As anyone who watches nineties-era romantic comedies knows, there’s a fine line between charming overtures and boneheaded actions that result in deep psychological wounds.
—
Frederick Dreier, Outside, 11 Feb. 2026
Scripps has rejected such overtures.
—Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
Altman resisted any trade overtures at the time.
—Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Orrick, who did not acknowledge the city’s overtures, appeared more interested in what Lee had to say.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
His overtures were met with pushback from Greenlandic, Danish and European leaders, with multiple European countries sending troops to the semiautonomous Danish territory last week.
—Max Rego, The Hill, 19 Jan. 2026
The two countries did make tentative overtures in the late 1990s, when Iranians were electing politicians on promises of greater personal freedom and openness.
—Karl Vick, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Despite his positive words about the regime, which is practically unchanged save Maduro’s absence, in the last few days Trump has made overtures to María Corina Machado, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and opposition leader who was barred from running in Venezuela’s 2024 general election.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026
Whether that holds true will depend on her political overtures.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
Frederick Dreier, Outside, 11 Feb. 2026
Scripps has rejected such overtures.
—Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
Altman resisted any trade overtures at the time.
—Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Orrick, who did not acknowledge the city’s overtures, appeared more interested in what Lee had to say.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
His overtures were met with pushback from Greenlandic, Danish and European leaders, with multiple European countries sending troops to the semiautonomous Danish territory last week.
—Max Rego, The Hill, 19 Jan. 2026
The two countries did make tentative overtures in the late 1990s, when Iranians were electing politicians on promises of greater personal freedom and openness.
—Karl Vick, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Despite his positive words about the regime, which is practically unchanged save Maduro’s absence, in the last few days Trump has made overtures to María Corina Machado, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and opposition leader who was barred from running in Venezuela’s 2024 general election.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026
Whether that holds true will depend on her political overtures.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overtures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overtures. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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