as in to foreshadow
to give a slight indication of beforehand
the first crocus traditionally prefigures the arrival of spring
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prefigure
The widescreen, 35mm format prefigured IMAX and other high-density imagery in a way that still stuns on screen.
—
John Wenzel, The Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2025
It is also prefigured (another Biblical device) by Pharaoh’s order, in Exodus, to kill all male babies born to Hebrew mothers.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prefigure
John Wenzel, The Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2025
It is also prefigured (another Biblical device) by Pharaoh’s order, in Exodus, to kill all male babies born to Hebrew mothers.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prefigure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prefigure
Verb
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The intentionally half-baked approach to Season 2 foreshadows an overstuffed and potentially controversial third season, the emotional effect of which will be dulled by the likely long hiatus (Season 1 premiered in January 2023).—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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What Will Happen Next? Zuckerberg may have foreshadowed the endgame about seven years ago – divesting Instagram and possibly WhatsApp.—
Peter Cohan,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Google is predicting a spike in search volumes this month for terms related to the recession that came to define the late 2000s.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
26 Apr. 2025
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Analysis predict the number of new vehicle registrations will fall due to the fluid nature of the current trade policy negotiations.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
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That target implies a 14.2% decrease from Apple’s latest close.—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2025
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Gentry implied that the growth sprang largely from American unexpectedly adding flights, which the airport is contractually obliged to accommodate, The Ledger reported.—
Ted Reed,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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It was heralded as a watershed moment, a legally binding document to transform a police department with a troubled history.—
Natasha Dartigue,
Baltimore Sun,
23 Apr. 2025
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The Commonwealth is heralded as a national bellwether, like clockwork every four years.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The Trustees anticipate that Medicare will face a substantial financial shortfall.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
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Wind gusts of up to 50 mph and pea-sized hail (0.25 inches) are anticipated.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prefigure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prefigure. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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