1
as in forerunner
one that announces or indicates the later arrival of another
18th-century lyric poets like Robert Burns were precursors of the Romantics
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2
as in ancestor
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed
a precursor of the modern eggplant
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of precursor
The Dow is older than the S&P 500, which was established in 1957 (though precursors had existed since 1928) and the Nasdaq Composite, which was established in 1971.
—
John Towfighi, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
In the upstream phase of sustainable fuel production, EN2CORE Technology transforms raw landfill emissions into a usable chemical precursor.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Feb. 2026
His first proposal for a major public work, titled Play Mountain, was a playground that looked like a Surrealist amphitheater cut into the earth or maybe a distant precursor to the land art of Robert Smithson and Michael Heizer.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 4 Feb. 2026
Thiel’s claim climate policy and global cooperation are precursors to a one‑world dictatorship ignores how such policies actually work.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for precursor
John Towfighi, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
In the upstream phase of sustainable fuel production, EN2CORE Technology transforms raw landfill emissions into a usable chemical precursor.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Feb. 2026
His first proposal for a major public work, titled Play Mountain, was a playground that looked like a Surrealist amphitheater cut into the earth or maybe a distant precursor to the land art of Robert Smithson and Michael Heizer.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 4 Feb. 2026
Thiel’s claim climate policy and global cooperation are precursors to a one‑world dictatorship ignores how such policies actually work.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for precursor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precursor
Noun
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The forerunner of British Invasion took the summit of American entertainment, which was a huge deal across generations.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
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Manufactured between 1960 and 1980, Scouts were beefy 4x4s and a forerunner to the SUV.—
Justin Wingerter,
Denver Post,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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But now, a series of tea parties with an ape named Kanzi suggests some of our closest ancestors may have this ability too.—
Suzanne Nuyen,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2026
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The findings also suggest that herbivory evolved independently in several different groups of early land vertebrates, not just in the ancestors of modern reptiles.—
Lily Hautau,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Some investors see its rock-bottom valuation and 20% year-to-date share-price drop as a harbinger of what awaits its peers.—
Bernard Goyder,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
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Is this a harbinger for the November midterms?—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Immune benefits likely come from maintaining adequate vitamin C levels over time, not from eating large amounts after symptoms start.—
Morgan Pearson,
Verywell Health,
5 Feb. 2026
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Drinking hot water can temporarily soothe symptoms like a sore throat, headache, and congestion.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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New studies, however, clearly show that medical marijuana is not nearly as effective as the pro-marijuana lobby heralds.—
Mike Gimbel,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Jan. 2026
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Looking for bathroom storage ideas to herald in a loo refresh?—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The fasten-seatbelt sign was on and the flight attendants were performing final cabin checks when the plane suddenly dropped, then violently pitched back up.—
Aaron Cooper,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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Tom pulled up a Wikipedia page on his laptop called WikiProject AI Cleanup, and another on how to spot signs of AI writing.—
Imogen West-Knights,
The Dial,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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FirstMark Capital led the round and was joined by GV, Spark Capital, Homebrew, and angel investors.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
9 Feb. 2026
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Even the Tampere Cathedral is a Modernist provocation, with a treatment of the Resurrection by Finnish symbolist Magnus Enckell; a serpent painted into the ceiling; and another painting that depicts death as a kind of caring angel.—
Boris Fishman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Precursor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precursor. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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