1
as in prologue
a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event
an eruption of sectarian violence that proved to be the prelude to all-out civil war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in introduction
a short section (as of a book) that leads to or explains the main part
the musical had a brief prelude to get the audience in the proper mood
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prelude
The final game of Ethan Wachsmann’s sophomore season was the messy prelude to complete domination.
—
Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 4 May 2026
The show, which opens to the public May 10, examines the relationship between fashion, art and the body, giving the weekend’s pre-parties their usual mix of celebrity dressing, designer visibility and red carpet prelude.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 3 May 2026
The California Classic, a July prelude to the more expansive Las Vegas NBA Summer League, has released a schedule that will have a version of the Heat back on the court on July 3.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
Campari by Manero opened as a pop-up and serves as a prelude to the restaurant Manero, set to open in 2026.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prelude
Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 4 May 2026
The show, which opens to the public May 10, examines the relationship between fashion, art and the body, giving the weekend’s pre-parties their usual mix of celebrity dressing, designer visibility and red carpet prelude.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 3 May 2026
The California Classic, a July prelude to the more expansive Las Vegas NBA Summer League, has released a schedule that will have a version of the Heat back on the court on July 3.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
Campari by Manero opened as a pop-up and serves as a prelude to the restaurant Manero, set to open in 2026.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prelude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prelude
Noun
-
The backstory Nay Palad’s prologue has so many twists and turns; a book has been written about it (look up Not For Sale by the resort’s Belgian-German founder and former professional football player Robert Dekeyser).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
-
For the single take prologue, Pawlikowski kept sculpting it with Diehl, taking things out, putting them back in, to reach the right length and cadence.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Fans serenaded Saiss, who now plays for Qatari side Al Sadd, and showed their appreciation for Jimenez throughout the game on Sunday, even when the Mexico international was simply warming up before his second-half introduction.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
At the entrance, a shelf displays ceramics made by local craftspeople, each piece accompanied by an introduction to the creative who made it.—
Bridget Mills-Powell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Hernandez, now a Southern Section champion again, along with all the other winners will move onto the CIF preliminaries next Saturday to face the rest of the state's top female jumpers, with a chance to get back to the state finals.—
Ryan Gaydos OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
-
Tennyson never made it to the Southern Section track preliminaries after winning the league title.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Trump’s preface opens by celebrating counterterrorism achievements that analysts describe as inflated or lacking in nuance.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
14 May 2026
-
The volume collects work from the last decade, each with a brief preface from the author, giving us a puncture of the present into her words of the past.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
West has been making overtures to the Jewish community in recent months.—
Shirley Halperin,
Rolling Stone,
14 May 2026
-
Trump has wielded the ceasefire as a carrot and stick, issuing peace overtures one day and threats the next day, all in an attempt to get an upper hand in the negotiations.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Jim Parsons wrote the foreword.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
-
His former roles include FBI Special Agent and SWAT Team member; Deputy Director of the California Office of Homeland Security under Arnold Schwarzenegger, who provides a foreword in the memoir; and Chief of Homeland Security and Intelligence for the Los Angeles World Airports Police Department.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prelude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prelude. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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