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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.

And that is what Moriarty and Hennepin County will test in this case, which, if it succeeds, could be a precursor to charges in other such incidents, including the killings of Pretti and Good.

From Slate • Apr. 17, 2026

Not much different than it was in 1792, when 24 brokers established the precursor to the New York Stock Exchange, selling shares of shipping and insurance concerns to the city’s leading citizens.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

Musk, OpenAI’s then principal financial supporter, had asked Brockman and Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever to make a spreadsheet listing every employee and what important contribution they had made—a classically Muskian precursor to staff cuts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

In fact, stars have been taking cues from Hollywood history at precursor awards shows.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2026

In real time, it’s impossible to know whether an earthquake is its own event or a precursor of something bigger on the way.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland




Vocabulary lists containing precursor