as in to foreshadow
to give a slight indication of beforehand
the first crocus traditionally prefigures the arrival of spring
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of prefigure
Alpina was acquired by BMW in 2022, and the first hint of its future was revealed in the form of the Vision BMW Alpina—a design study which prefigures the brand’s new model, which will go to production next year.
—
Basem Wasef,
Robb Report,
21 May 2026
That prefigured, in a much smaller and less consequential way, Iran’s own actions in blocking the Strait of Hormuz during the current crisis.
—
Ioana Emy Matesan,
The Conversation,
9 Apr. 2026
The horror has come now like a storm— what if this night prefigured the night after death— what if all thereafter was an eternal quivering on the edge of an abyss, with everything base and vicious in oneself urging one forward and the baseness and viciousness of the world just ahead.
—
Literary Hub,
3 Mar. 2026
Gao has stated his goal of miniaturizing a multi-hormone sensor suite into a ring form factor, directly prefiguring the design targets of commercial startups in this market.
—
Josipa Majic Predin,
Forbes.com,
27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prefigure
Basem Wasef,
Robb Report,
21 May 2026
That prefigured, in a much smaller and less consequential way, Iran’s own actions in blocking the Strait of Hormuz during the current crisis.
—
Ioana Emy Matesan,
The Conversation,
9 Apr. 2026
The horror has come now like a storm— what if this night prefigured the night after death— what if all thereafter was an eternal quivering on the edge of an abyss, with everything base and vicious in oneself urging one forward and the baseness and viciousness of the world just ahead.
—
Literary Hub,
3 Mar. 2026
Gao has stated his goal of miniaturizing a multi-hormone sensor suite into a ring form factor, directly prefiguring the design targets of commercial startups in this market.
—
Josipa Majic Predin,
Forbes.com,
27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prefigure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prefigure
Verb
-
Roberts’s quip foreshadowed his opinion on behalf of the Court holding that near-universal birthright citizenship is guaranteed by the text of the Fourteenth Amendment’s citizenship clause.
-
As Sam Khan wrote yesterday, the SWC also foreshadowed the future of college football.
Verb
-
Susan Del Percio, a New York GOP strategist, predicted the dueling programs would excite the different constituencies of the two leaders.
-
But predicting how things will change decades from now is a more daunting task than embracing a gauzy promise.
Verb
-
Barclays in June raised its year-end target for the S&P 500 to 7,800 – implying a gain of 4% across the next six months.
-
Many modern brides now wear different outfits for the ceremony and reception, and reporting from Page Six implies that Swift will follow suit.
Verb
-
The housing package was heralded as a win by both Republicans and Democrats, who are eager to campaign on the legislation ahead of the 2026 midterms in which voters have serious concerns about the cost of living.
-
There will also be random utility players and less-than-heralded bullpen arms included to fill out the roster.
Verb
-
Some fans will have purchased alternative plane tickets and booked extra hotel nights, anticipating a change that never came.
-
Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro is anticipated to be more expensive, potentially by $200, driven by rising memory and storage costs.
Cite this Entry
“Prefigure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prefigure. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
