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  • intro
    intro
    noun
  • intro-
    intro-
    a prefix, meaning “inwardly,” “within,” occurring in loanwords from Latin (introspection ); occasionally used in the formation of new words (introjection ).
  • intro.
    intro.
    abbreviation
    introduce.
Synonyms

intro

1 American  
[in-troh] / ˈɪn troʊ /

noun

Informal.
  • intros
    plural
  1. an introduction.

  2. the introductory passage of a piece for a jazz or dance band.


intro- 2 American  
  1. a prefix, meaning “inwardly,” “within,” occurring in loanwords from Latin (introspection ); occasionally used in the formation of new words (introjection ).


intro. 3 American  
Or introd

abbreviation

  1. introduce.

  2. introduced.

  3. introducing.

  4. introduction.

  5. introductory.


intro. 1 British  

abbreviation

  1. introduction

  2. introductory

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

intro 2 British  
/ ˈɪntrəʊ /

noun

  1. informal short for introduction

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

intro- 3 British  

prefix

  1. in, into, or inward

    introvert

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of intro1

First recorded in 1895–1900; shortening of introduction

Origin of intro-2

< Latin, representing intrō (adv.) inwardly, within

Explanation

An intro is the opening section of a piece of music, usually before the singing begins. Often when you hear a pop song's intro, it's so familiar that you'll recognize it immediately. There are intros in popular music, as well as other musical styles, and a book or essay can have an intro as well, a few paragraphs or pages setting up the ideas to follow. Another kind of intro is when you formally present, or introduce, a person to a group or an individual. In fact, intro is a casual shorthand for introduction, from the Latin introductionem, "a leading in."

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The intro gets blasted at sporting events to raise energy or when something good happens, and it never fails to rally a crowd.

From Salon Aug. 10, 2026

During my first intro with Raynette, she gave me a little gold turtle and said it would bring me safety, luck and calmness.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 6, 2026

The intro to Royal Caribbean’s daily planner, called the Cruise Compass, practically challenged me to try it all on a Thursday in early May.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 3, 2026

Before quickly clarifying: "Well, the intro to Talk Show Host."

From BBC May 21, 2026

Cool Papa tuned First Guitar and began picking an easy intro to lay out the chord changes.

From "Clayton Byrd Goes Underground" by Rita Williams-Garcia

In the 14 months since Prime Minister Harold Wilson intro- duced the severest repression of all, the country has stumbled into an agonizing business slump.

From Time Magazine Archive

Nancy, as she liked to be called on all but the most formal of occasions intro- duced the committee's first afternoon witness.

From Terminal Compromise: computer terrorism: when privacy and freedom are the victims: a novel by Winn Schwartau

It contains a very complete intro- duction to the Internet and classroom Internet projects for K12 teachers.

From Email 101 by John Goodwin

“There was one the other day that had my season’s intro. It said something like, ‘I’m starting my Zoom meeting like this,’ and it was all of us singing the theme song,” Velez said.

From Slate Apr. 15, 2020

Cox didn’t realize her mistake until later. “I am so sorry to #Metallica and all their fans. I am told I didn’t say their names during the intro. Love you Metallica. You Rock,” she tweeted.

From Washington Post Dec. 19, 2017

“I didn’t realize how important it was to get the proper intro. I just cold-emailed to all of the big venture companies and said, ‘I have a game that will be the next big thing.’

From New York Times Dec. 31, 2013

I do think that the best easy to read intro. to cosmology and astronomy is still Cosmos by Carl Sagan, although it's obviously slightly dated now.

From The Guardian Mar. 25, 2011

Collected and arranged by Edith Rickert with intro., notes and glossary.

From The Book of the Duke of True Lovers by Christin? de Pisan

This playlist is mostly a mix of jazzy downtempo electronica like Jerry Paper’s “Grey Area” or the Mild High Club’s “Windowpane,” the latter of which has one of my favorite intros of all time.

From Salon Jun. 6, 2026

Shorter intros that leave room for a natural conversation feel more welcoming, he adds.

From The Wall Street Journal Oct. 30, 2025

They received a more muted introduction than the theatrical intros the All-Stars got.

From Los Angeles Times Feb. 17, 2025

Invitations and intros come via Arend's WhatsApp, and the event itself is unsanctioned and entirely unsupported.

From BBC Jan. 15, 2024

“Quick intros, today,” says the facilitator, a volunteer named Jess Williams.

From Seattle Times Dec. 18, 2023

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