as in forerunner
something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event
the preaching of John the Baptist is generally regarded by Christians as a prefiguring of the ministry of Jesus
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in foreshadowing
to give a slight indication of beforehand
the first crocus traditionally prefigures the arrival of spring
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prefiguring
Noun
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The notable feature of this particular death factory was its use of gas vans, a forerunner to the larger, more impersonal gas chambers built at Auschwitz-Birkenau, Belzec, Sobibor, and Treblinka.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025 -
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
Noun
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And some, with a bleak foreshadowing of what was to come, had written their names and the phone numbers of family members – on their chests.—
Kate Bartlett,
NPR,
18 Jan. 2025
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Some epileptic patients, for example, can feel their seizures coming on and activate their implants, but others don’t experience such foreshadowing.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
29 May 2015
Verb
-
Visitors are invited to park their cars and wander up the driveway to see cartoon characters and creatures heralding festive cheer.—
Patrick Connolly,
Orlando Sentinel,
19 Dec. 2024
-
In October 2022, the school held an inauguration ceremony heralding her arrival.—
Daniel I. Dorfman,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Such certificates are often pursued after a conviction has been vacated and as a precursor to a lawsuit.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2025
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For example, tryptophan is precursor to serotonin, the body’s feel-good chemical.—
Fiona Embleton,
Glamour,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In politics, there are liars and better liars How the Biden administration helped avoid a coup in Guatemala China’s meddling in Taiwan election presages year of misinformation threats Need help keeping up with this tumultuous election?—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
12 Jan. 2024
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The New Moon in Virgo, which occurs shortly after Mercury turns direct, presages really big beginnings throughout the zodiac.—
Jennifer Culp,
Them,
16 Aug. 2024
Verb
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This simulation helps in predicting potential impacts and unforeseen outcomes that may arise from format adjustments.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
28 Dec. 2024
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Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, the 36-year-old reality star (whose real name is Angela White) shared her confidence in her 8-year-old daughter's future, predicting that Dream will follow in her family's footsteps and become a businesswoman and a leader.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Weinstein’s thuggish joke was just one portent of the edgy, borderline sinister air that permeated the party from the very beginning.—
Scott Huver,
The Hollywood Reporter,
28 Feb. 2025
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The natural threat of the caterpillars has shown up in cultural expressions as a symbolic portent of human mortality, Battisti points out.—
Ivan Amato,
Scientific American,
30 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Butler was bothered after the discussion because Butler and his agent perceived that Heat officials were implying that Butler didn’t play his hardest in the Heat’s home win over the Pelicans on Wednesday.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
4 Jan. 2025
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Two days later, Jerry Jones offered a reason for Elliott’s decrease in time on the field, once again implying that he was being saved for the latter part of the season.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Prefiguring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prefiguring. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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