prelude

American  

[prel-yood, preyl-, prey-lood, pree-] / ˈprɛl yud, ˈpreɪl-, ˈpreɪ lud, ˈpri- /

noun

1. a preliminary to an action, event, condition, or work of broader scope and higher importance.

   Synonyms:

   beginning, opening, introduction

2. any action, event, comment, etc. that precedes something else.

3. Music.

   1. a relatively short, independent instrumental composition, free in form and resembling an improvisation.

   2. a piece that precedes a more important movement.

   3. the overture to an opera.

   4. an independent piece, of moderate length, sometimes used as an introduction to a fugue.

   5. music opening a church service; an introductory voluntary.

---

verb (used with object)

preludes, present (3rd person singular) preluded, past participle, past preluding present participle

1. to serve as a prelude or introduction to.

2. to introduce by a prelude.

3. to play as a prelude.

verb (used without object)

preludes, present (3rd person singular) preluded, past participle, past preluding present participle

1. to serve as a prelude.

2. to give a prelude.

3. to play a prelude.

prelude British  

/ prɪˈljuːsərɪ, prɪˈljuːʒən, prɪˈljuːsɪv, ˈprɛljuːd, prɪˈljuːdə, ˈprɛljʊdə /

noun

1. 1. a piece of music that precedes a fugue, or forms the first movement of a suite, or an introduction to an act in an opera, etc

   2. (esp for piano) a self-contained piece of music

2. something serving as an introduction or preceding event, occurrence, etc

---

verb

1. to serve as a prelude to (something)

2. (tr) to introduce by a prelude

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preluder
  noun
• prelusively
  adverb
• unpreluded
  adjective
• preludious
  adjective
• preludial
  adjective
• prelusive
  adjective
• preludiously
  adverb
• prelusion
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have preluded
  perfect
• has preluded
  perfect 3rd person singular
• are preluding
  progressive
• is preluding
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have been preluding
  perfect progressive
• has been preluding
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• am preluding
  progressive 1st person singular
• preluding
  participle
• preludes
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had preluded
  perfect
• was preluding
  progressive singular
• were preluding
  progressive plural
• had been preluding
  perfect progressive
• preluded
  participle
• preluded
  simple

Future

• will prelude
  simple
• will have preluded
  perfect
• will have been preluding
  perfect progressive
• will be preluding
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of prelude

1555–65; (noun) < Medieval Latin praelūdium, equivalent to prae- pre- + -lūdium play; compare Latin lūdus play; (v.) < Latin praelūdere to play beforehand

Explanation

A prelude is an introductory action, event, or performance that comes before a bigger or more momentous one. It is made of up the prefix pre- meaning "before," and the Latin root ludere meaning "play." Speakers of old school French and Latin understood a prelude to be the notes that they would play or sing to warm up or test an instrument. Today preludes are more like introductions than practice, but you can still think of them as small warm ups to the main events. Preludes are often used in classical music, as well as in novels, to set the tone for the rest of the orchestral piece or story.

Example Sentences

Yet while an increase in wholesale prices is a prelude of sorts to what consumers end up paying for goods and services, the relationship is far from exact.

From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026

It could be the biggest IPO ever but it also might just be the prelude for a record-breaking merger.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

It was a striking prelude to "Body to Body", the album's first full track, interwoven with Korea's most iconic folk song and the album's namesake, Arirang.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

This, though, doesn’t look like a prelude to a recession.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026

“And now,” she says, “the prelude to Johann Sebastian Bach’s hauntingly beautiful Cello Sonata Number One in G.”

From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• introduction
• prologue