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
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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
His crippling oil embargo against Cuba — itself an act of war — could be a prelude to an outright military assault, as in Venezuela, but with bloodier consequences.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
19 June 2026
This was the second of five group-stage games to be held here, a collective prelude to the July 1 main event (Round of 32).
—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
17 June 2026
Nearby the Kennedy Center earlier on Friday, UFC held a press conference at the Lincoln Memorial, a prelude to the cage match at the White House on Sunday, held in a giant makeshift arena.
—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
12 June 2026
In Germany itself, references to the Weimar Republic, the fragile democracy that preceded Hitler’s rise to power, are a staple of public debate as an unmistakable prelude-to-Hitler warning.
—
Katja Hoyer,
Washington Post,
9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for prelude
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
19 June 2026
This was the second of five group-stage games to be held here, a collective prelude to the July 1 main event (Round of 32).
—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
17 June 2026
Nearby the Kennedy Center earlier on Friday, UFC held a press conference at the Lincoln Memorial, a prelude to the cage match at the White House on Sunday, held in a giant makeshift arena.
—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
12 June 2026
In Germany itself, references to the Weimar Republic, the fragile democracy that preceded Hitler’s rise to power, are a staple of public debate as an unmistakable prelude-to-Hitler warning.
—
Katja Hoyer,
Washington Post,
9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for prelude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prelude
Noun
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But the extent to which the past is prologue is uncertain.
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But the recent past need not be prologue.
Noun
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The demonstration also represented the public debut of the production version of Atlas in a live event following its introduction earlier this year at CES 2026.
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He was given a loud ovation during Saturday’s player introductions in his first NBA game before Jazz fans in Utah.
Noun
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The meet continues Thursday, a day consisting largely of women’s preliminaries, followed by men’s finals Friday and women’s finals Saturday.
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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.
Noun
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In the preface of her new book, MJ Corey offers a note of apology for pouring so much energy into analyzing a family that’s famously famous for being famous, and for little else, said Megan Garber in The Atlantic.
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The book arrives on the scene six years before Wordsworth’s preface to the Lyrical Ballads (considered the first Romantic manifesto).
Noun
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The tension is playing out in public as leaders including Marco Rubio fight back against extremism while others such as JD Vance make overtures to the fringe.
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Despite the fact that American leaders paid scant attention to his initial overture, Sultan Muhammad pursued the relationship further.
Noun
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As Dubner himself acknowledged in the anniversary foreword, the original book was written without a central thesis tying everything together.
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The book, co-authored by Darren Grubb and Johnny Russo, featured a foreword by Letterman.
Cite this Entry
“Prelude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prelude. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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