1
as in forerunner
one that announces or indicates the later arrival of another
18th-century lyric poets like Robert Burns were precursors of the Romantics
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in ancestor
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed
a precursor of the modern eggplant
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of precursor
But those precursor awards are also imperfect indicators, and some of them have better track records than others.
—
Nathaniel Rakich, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2025
Her performance in The Substance earned her the Best Actress prize at the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Critics Choice Awards this year, three of the four biggest precursor ceremonies.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2025
Young women deliberately chose husbands from among soldiers who had been terminally poisoned by Iraqi chemical weapons, which had been developed with the help of dual-use materials and precursors supplied by companies in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
—Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
The Oscars pushed back its nomination voting deadline twice in response to the L.A. wildfires, and many precursors shuffled their dates as well.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precursor
Nathaniel Rakich, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2025
Her performance in The Substance earned her the Best Actress prize at the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Critics Choice Awards this year, three of the four biggest precursor ceremonies.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2025
Young women deliberately chose husbands from among soldiers who had been terminally poisoned by Iraqi chemical weapons, which had been developed with the help of dual-use materials and precursors supplied by companies in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
—Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
The Oscars pushed back its nomination voting deadline twice in response to the L.A. wildfires, and many precursors shuffled their dates as well.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precursor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precursor
Noun
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In 1914, Frank Newman opened the Royal Theatre which was a forerunner to movie palaces in the city, a significant departure from nickelodeons.—
Michael Wells,
Kansas City Star,
28 Feb. 2025
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Hammond, the school’s forerunner, won its fourth straight 3A sectional title in 2008.—
Michael Osipoff,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The Cajuns of south Louisiana trace their ancestors to the French Acadians exiled from Nova Scotia around 1755.—
Kristy Christiansen,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2025
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Our ancestors crossed a vast ocean, strode into the unknown wilderness, and carved their fortunes from the rock and soil of a perilous and very dangerous frontier.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The dinner was a harbinger of an announcement that led many to self-identify as a military wife: BTS is now on a three-year hiatus to complete mandatory service.—
Zoe Guy,
Vulture,
1 Mar. 2025
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Especially after a long, cold winter, these fruits and vegetables are a refreshing sight—and are harbingers of the bounty to come for the next several months.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Pet owners should watch for symptoms in animals, including fever, lethargy, inflamed eyes, respiratory difficulties, and neurological signs like tremors and seizures.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Mar. 2025
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Nasal washes and rinses are meant to temporarily ease symptoms of cold and flu, sinusitis, and allergies.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach star as the titular quartet, heroes who must defend the Earth against Galactus (Ralph Ineson), a ravenous space god who's hungry to devour the entire planet with the help of his herald, the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner).—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
18 Feb. 2025
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In Turkey and the Middle East, the birds crop up in folklore as heralds of spring, guides for pilgrims, and the first creatures, along with two doves, to disembark from Noah’s ark.—
Nick Paumgarten,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Retinol is touted as one of the best skin care ingredients for tackling dullness, acne, fine lines, dark spots, and signs of aging.—
Jessica Kasparian,
SELF,
28 Feb. 2025
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Each sign rules different parts of the body, and Aries rules the head.—
Sophie Saint Thomas,
Allure,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Only Hackman could shift like that, from raconteur to angel of death.—
Mary McNamara,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2025
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The weirdest stuff in the movie belongs to Queen Latifah and Terrence Howard’s roles as Christmas angels who narrate the story and get into some hi-jinks on the side.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Precursor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precursor. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
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