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⏳ An early event 🎹 A musical introduction 🚪 To come before
prelude

prelude

32 5.9
An event that comes before and leads to a more important event
  • noun
  • /ˈprɛljuːd/
: preludio
  • Georgians interpreted Cherokee resistance as the prelude to a violent uprising.
  • a necessary prelude
  • prelude to sale

So he says these are not passions, but the first preludes to passion, right?

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Examples

  • This could be a prelude to a larger attack.

    Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

  • My other books, they were just a prelude to this one.

    The Curse of King Tut's Tomb (2006)

  • I just want to show you one more picture as a prelude to where I will start next time.

  • Welcome to the prelude of the big event.

    North of the 10 (2022)

  • You see, this is just the beginning, a prelude to the trial.

    Scream 2 (1997)

  • Our lives up to now have been the prelude to this moment.

    She's Having a Baby (1988)

  • It's as if her whole life has been a prelude to this moment, this fateful meeting that changes everything.

    King Kong (2005)

  • In other cases, large state enterprises are being broken up as a prelude to privatization.

    Academic text (1991)

  • It can actually be a prelude to despair, because then the opportunity to build strong, trusting connections with people is gone.

    DoctorRamani

  • The unexpected snowfall was just a prelude to the harsh winter that followed.

Synonyms

precursor
vsprelude
32 7.2

A person, thing, or event that comes before and signals what will follow

focuses on actively leading into or introducing the later event
prelude to
vsprelude
26 4.4

An event that comes before something more important

is the same but used without a following object
prologue
vsprelude
  • Literature
19 6.0

An opening part of a play that explains the story or background

is an earlier action that introduces or leads to a later event
lead-in
vsprelude
  • Literature
14 4.9

A short introduction before the main part of a talk or story

is a preceding action that leads into an important later situation
preliminary
vsprelude
13 5.2

An event that happens before a main event to prepare for it

aims to introduce and lead directly to the more important event
overture
vsprelude
8 7.2

An event or action that comes before something more important

is a more general action that leads into a later important event
antecedent
vsprelude
6 7.3

An event or situation that happened before something and helped cause it

emphasizes introducing and actively leading to a more important later event
prefiguration
vsprelude
1 9.9

An event or example that shows what will happen later

serves to introduce and directly lead into the subsequent event
prefigurement
vsprelude
  • Literature
1 9.1

A sign or early example that shows what will happen later

is an earlier act that actively introduces rather than only hinting
premotion
vsprelude
1 9.9

A change that happens before another action to cause or prepare it

is an action that introduces and leads to a following, more important event

Antonyms

consequence
∞ 4.1

A result of an action or event

outcome
690 2.1

The result of an action or event

Compounds

prelude to
26 4.4

An event that comes before something more important

chorale prelude
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A short organ piece that uses a hymn tune and often introduces singing

How Significant

harbinger
21 8.7
precursor
32 7.2
prelude
32 5.9
incident
∞ 2.7
sign
∞ 3.2

Surface Forms

prelude singular
preludes plural

Etymology

Prelude comes from the Latin parts pre- 'before' and ludere 'to play'. Think of it as something that 'plays' before the main event, so a prelude is an action or event that comes first and leads to something more important.