as in to foreshadow
to give a slight indication of beforehand
the first crocus traditionally prefigures the arrival of spring
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prefigure
The details are what captivate; chrome strips on the hood and sides, and exquisite chrome hood hinges prefiguring the decklid hinges on Ferrari’s 275 GTB/4.
—
Robert Ross, Robb Report, 1 Nov. 2024
Woody’s facial-recognition research in the 1960s prefigured all these technological breakthroughs and their queasy ethical implications.
—Shaun Raviv, WIRED, 21 Jan. 2020
The index, which measures wholesale prices – and thus generally prefigures changes in the CPI – was unchanged in September from August, defying expectations from a Dow Jones survey of a 0.1% increase.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2024
Westchester County during the Revolutionary War prefigured the Wild West before that concept had entered a dime novelist’s mind.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for prefigure
Robert Ross, Robb Report, 1 Nov. 2024
Woody’s facial-recognition research in the 1960s prefigured all these technological breakthroughs and their queasy ethical implications.
—Shaun Raviv, WIRED, 21 Jan. 2020
The index, which measures wholesale prices – and thus generally prefigures changes in the CPI – was unchanged in September from August, defying expectations from a Dow Jones survey of a 0.1% increase.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2024
Westchester County during the Revolutionary War prefigured the Wild West before that concept had entered a dime novelist’s mind.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for prefigure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prefigure
Verb
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The New York Yankees’ worst nightmare has come true, though there were certainly signs that foreshadowed their most devastating injury yet this spring.—
Gary Phillips,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2025
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The women's conference tournament foreshadowed a chaotic (but oh-so-good) March Madness.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA TODAY,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The National Park Service, which tracks the blooming of the trees each year, predicts peak bloom will be between March 28 and 31 this year.—
Nicole Brown Chau,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2025
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In the first two months of the year, core inflation, which excludes volatile items such as food and energy, is estimated to have risen by just 0.3%, Macquarie’s Hu said, predicting that this would mark the longest deflationary streak since 1993.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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This implies a very strong Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 2.1% (vs. 19.0% for S&P 500).—
Trefis Team,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
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This doesn’t imply that diplomatic options are lost.—
Matthew Clary,
The Conversation,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Dalman, 26, just reached the end of his rookie contract with the Atlanta Falcons and is heralded as a smart, steady lineman who can be an asset as a run blocker.—
Sean Hammond,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2025
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But investing less than 2% of GDP now could eliminate most of those losses, according to a report from Boston Consulting Group and the University of Cambridge (Forbes) Membrane could herald more sustainable lithium extraction.—
Alan Ohnsman,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
Verb
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If boundaries are the weak point, anticipate ways to stave off interruptions – for example, hanging a Do Not Disturb sign on your cubicle.—
Caroline Ceniza-Levine,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
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The county anticipates reopening Latta Place in 2026.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prefigure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prefigure. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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