as in to foreshadow
to give a slight indication of beforehand
the first crocus traditionally prefigures the arrival of spring
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Recent Examples of prefigure
Its extreme hostility to the very idea of liberal governance, its skepticism of democracy, and its faith in the primacy of the wealthy over the law all prefigured the way that Trump and Elon Musk would assail key functions of government in 2025.
—
Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
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
Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prefigure
Verb
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This late comeback against Jon Lester and an Athletics team that had looked like a powerhouse through the first half of the season foreshadowed the next two Octobers in K.C.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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These examples foreshadow this emerging path of development, distinct from the Industrial Age model of cheap-labor, high-scale manufacturing for export.—
Robert C. Wolcott,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Verb
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Prices could further spike, however, if Iran targets Saudi Arabia’s oil supplies or creates shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, through which almost 25% of total global oil consumption flows, with some experts predicting $100 oil per barrel.—
Mathias Hammer,
semafor.com,
13 June 2025
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Clean energy installations, including solar, will continue, if more slowly than previously predicted.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
13 June 2025
Verb
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Roughly 56% of analysts surveyed by FactSet have a buy rating on JPMorgan stock, and the average analyst consensus price target implies about 3% upside.—
Brian Evans,
CNBC,
15 June 2025
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As the name implies, the fog harp consists of a frame holding vertical wires with no criss-crossing horizontal ones.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
13 June 2025
Verb
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When the full-length arrived, it was heralded as yet another artistic triumph.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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But now, as the internet heralds certain celebrities’ plastic surgery results, revealing the details of one’s own procedure(s) provides an opportunity to hold court in a positive light.—
Nicola Dall'Asen,
Allure,
4 June 2025
Verb
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Earlier this week, the U.S. May consumer inflation report also came in cooler than anticipated.—
Nur Hikmah Md Ali,
CNBC,
13 June 2025
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The National Retail Federation also anticipated skyrocketing prices on clothing, household appliances, furniture and more.—
Dryden Pence,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prefigure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prefigure. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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