1
as in forerunners
one that announces or indicates the later arrival of another
18th-century lyric poets like Robert Burns were precursors of the Romantics
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in ancestors
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed
a precursor of the modern eggplant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of precursors
In March, state media reported that China arrested seven people in an operation targeting traffickers of fentanyl precursors, according to the Reuters news agency.
—
CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Such engravings, which depict the wackily maximalist style à la mode, including oodles of feathers and furbelows, were, in essence, early precursors to modern fashion magazines.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
Fixing Li-ion battery limits The method works under ambient conditions and relies on simple precursors.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 18 Mar. 2026
To be sure, the other precursors were all over the place, with Sinners’ Mosaku winning BAFTA, One Battle’s Teyana Taylor winning the Golden Globe and Sentimental Value’s Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas winning some big critics prizes.
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026
Scientists at Colossal have cultivated primordial germ cells — early precursors to sperm and egg cells — from the pigeon, the dodo’s closest living relative.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Scientists at the company have cultivated primordial germ cells — early precursors to sperm and egg cells — from the pigeon, the dodo’s closest living relative.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 16 Mar. 2026
For all the statistics, precursors and narratives that shape the race, the Academy still has a way of reminding everyone that the story isn’t finished until the final envelope is opened.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
Through transforming domestic coal ash into high-value industrial materials, the company is creating downstream manufacturing of end-products such as paper and paper products, textiles, building and construction materials, carbon fiber precursors, automobile parts, airplane parts, and more.
—Nick Franck, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Such engravings, which depict the wackily maximalist style à la mode, including oodles of feathers and furbelows, were, in essence, early precursors to modern fashion magazines.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
Fixing Li-ion battery limits The method works under ambient conditions and relies on simple precursors.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 18 Mar. 2026
To be sure, the other precursors were all over the place, with Sinners’ Mosaku winning BAFTA, One Battle’s Teyana Taylor winning the Golden Globe and Sentimental Value’s Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas winning some big critics prizes.
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026
Scientists at Colossal have cultivated primordial germ cells — early precursors to sperm and egg cells — from the pigeon, the dodo’s closest living relative.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Scientists at the company have cultivated primordial germ cells — early precursors to sperm and egg cells — from the pigeon, the dodo’s closest living relative.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 16 Mar. 2026
For all the statistics, precursors and narratives that shape the race, the Academy still has a way of reminding everyone that the story isn’t finished until the final envelope is opened.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
Through transforming domestic coal ash into high-value industrial materials, the company is creating downstream manufacturing of end-products such as paper and paper products, textiles, building and construction materials, carbon fiber precursors, automobile parts, airplane parts, and more.
—Nick Franck, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precursors
Noun
-
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
-
These were the forerunners of today’s robots.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
However, some species occasionally behave in ways that recall their land-curious evolutionary ancestors.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Your hamburger’s ancestors are extinct.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The most common adverse events were falls and muscle weakness, which overlap with ALS symptoms.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2026
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Other symptoms include difficulty breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal distension, and constipation.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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If popular wine auction results are truly harbingers of pendulum swings in the world of wine, then Cabernet Franc is having a moment.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
29 Mar. 2026
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These harbingers of doom turn out to be on to something, because shortly after, the couple are in an accident in which Jakob is killed.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Photos of him in frames with hearts and angels wings dotted the shelves.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The lyrics of their earlier tracks are dotted with images of angels and other elements of the divine.—
Colin Joyce,
Pitchfork,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Serious Medical and Emotional Neglect Turner said Kaiko arrived in poor health, suffering from multiple medical issues and signs of prolonged neglect.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Oil steadied and Asian stocks were mostly trading lower Tuesday as signs of a de-escalation of the Iran war remained mixed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
After years of competing for quarters in the arcades, two of the heralds of the video game age are working in tandem.—
Devin Robertson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The movie heralds from FilmNation Entertainment’s production label Infrared, Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions, and Assemble Media.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His deputies and outriders are not quite so deft.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
21 Sep. 2025
-
Churchill Downs outriders, jockey agents, jockeys Florent Geroux and Julian Leperoux, as well as members of Lukas' barn staff also sat in the crowd.—
Stephanie Kuzydym,
Louisville Courier Journal,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Precursors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precursors. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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