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
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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
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Recent Examples of precursors
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
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
Solar flares are often precursors to Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) -- a massive burst of solar material and magnetic field from the sun's outer atmosphere.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 3 Feb. 2026
The results reveal a previously unknown pathway for building protein precursors that does not require liquid water—long thought to be essential—that can operate in the extreme conditions of interstellar space.
—Victoria Corless, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Something that this new reality is forcing all of us to contemplate is whether or not any of the Oscar precursors — the award shows that precede the Oscars, and often claim to predict them — still provide any real sense of where the Academy is headed.
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 Jan. 2026
Polish police released footage of the operation showing dozens of drums and tanks containing the precursors stored in various warehouses, as well as processing labs raided by heavily armed investigators.
—CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Helpfully, the precursors have provided two different visions of what that might look like.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2026
Its supply chain spans continents — chemical precursors from China, synthesized in Mexico, and transported across the southern border in quantities small enough to evade traditional enforcement — before spreading into communities far from any border.
—Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026
John Towfighi, CNN Money, 6 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
Solar flares are often precursors to Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) -- a massive burst of solar material and magnetic field from the sun's outer atmosphere.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 3 Feb. 2026
The results reveal a previously unknown pathway for building protein precursors that does not require liquid water—long thought to be essential—that can operate in the extreme conditions of interstellar space.
—Victoria Corless, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Something that this new reality is forcing all of us to contemplate is whether or not any of the Oscar precursors — the award shows that precede the Oscars, and often claim to predict them — still provide any real sense of where the Academy is headed.
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 Jan. 2026
Polish police released footage of the operation showing dozens of drums and tanks containing the precursors stored in various warehouses, as well as processing labs raided by heavily armed investigators.
—CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Helpfully, the precursors have provided two different visions of what that might look like.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2026
Its supply chain spans continents — chemical precursors from China, synthesized in Mexico, and transported across the southern border in quantities small enough to evade traditional enforcement — before spreading into communities far from any border.
—Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precursors
Noun
-
With little support for the WHO among Republicans — who control both the House and the Senate — there has been no push from Congress to hold the country to the provision set out by their forerunners.—
Helen Branswell,
STAT,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Like these forerunners, the pleasures of Knight’s A Thousand Blows, which premiered all six episodes of its second season on Hulu Friday, lies in looking back on that thin sliver of time, about 15 years ago, when anachronistic old-timey crime was in vogue.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Connie Martin always knew who her ancestors were growing up.—
Carolyn Stein,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Some of those ancestors left Africa to explore Europe.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Congress must stop funding reactive solutions that treat symptoms while ignoring root causes.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
For people who have no symptoms and are 45 and older, it's considered a screening test and considered preventative.—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Eclipses are harbingers of change, often bringing intense shifts in perspective and catapulting us into new realities.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Few harbingers are more promising than the Swedish singer and producer Robyn.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
26 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The score is a comical barrage of harp strums, as if heaven’s angels have gotten good and drunk.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
-
When founders communicate with confidence and clarity, angels are often able to see the opportunity more easily and feel more secure backing the vision.—
William Jones,
AZCentral.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Members hold signs at busy traffic intersections and highway overpasses during morning and afternoon rush hours.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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Catherine O'Hara's cause of death, explained Someone experiencing a PE might not present any symptoms; common signs include shortness of breath, chest discomfort, raised heart rate and unusually low blood pressure.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
The indie feature heralds from Benacus Entertainment and RNF Productions.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
14 Oct. 2025
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 15 Feb. 2026.
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