as in to foreshadow
to give a slight indication of beforehand
the first crocus traditionally prefigures the arrival of spring
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Examples of prefigure in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kremlin authorities seized on Macron’s remarks, arguing that NATO troops in Ukraine would prefigure a direct armed confrontation with Russia.
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Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024
Some people think of Sutherland as the ‘godfather of computer graphics’ – and with good reason, given that his Sketchpad application prefigured the AutoCAD tools so useful in drafting and designing today.
—John Werner, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
Here Spinoza prefigures an important active discussion in modern science.
—The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024
Particular tactics also migrated from theater to theater; the use of terror from the air by Italian forces in Ethiopia, for instance, prefigured its use by German forces in Spain and Japanese forces in China.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 26 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prefigure 
Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024
Some people think of Sutherland as the ‘godfather of computer graphics’ – and with good reason, given that his Sketchpad application prefigured the AutoCAD tools so useful in drafting and designing today.
—John Werner, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
Here Spinoza prefigures an important active discussion in modern science.
—The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024
Particular tactics also migrated from theater to theater; the use of terror from the air by Italian forces in Ethiopia, for instance, prefigured its use by German forces in Spain and Japanese forces in China.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 26 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prefigure
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prefigure.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Thesaurus Entries Near prefigure
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“Prefigure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prefigure. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.
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