Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

precursor

[pri-kur-ser, pree-kur-] / prɪˈkɜr sər, ˈpri kɜr- /
NOUN
something that indicates outcome or event beforehand
Synonyms




Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Office of Strategic Services—the precursor to the Central Intelligence Agency—recruited him to lead an American spy network in Greece.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

Some of the companies, such as telecom equipment maker Lucent Technologies and smartphone precursor Palm, have all but disappeared.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

"The public may be familiar with the Princess Mary Christmas tins of World War One, but this Boer War issue was the precursor," he said.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

Spang solved this by processing the liquid precursor of the hydrogel in a centrifuge.

From Science Daily • May 5, 2026

Chiefdoms characteristically have an ideology, precursor to an institutionalized religion, that buttresses the chief’s authority.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond




Vocabulary lists containing precursor


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "precursor" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com