intro
noun
an introduction.
intro
1 American
[in-troh]
/ ˈɪn troʊ /
noun
Informal.
-
intros
plural
-
an introduction.
-
the introductory passage of a piece for a jazz or dance band.
intro-
2
American
intro.
3
American
Or
introd
abbreviation
-
introduce.
-
introduced.
-
introducing.
-
introduction.
-
introductory.
intro.
1
British
abbreviation
-
introduction
-
introductory
intro
2
British
/ ˈɪntrəʊ /
noun
intro-
3
British
prefix
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."
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:
On Friday, she salsified “Provenza” and added the riff of Willie Colón’s “La Murga” as an intro to “Tusa.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
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
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
It was the intro to Kaira DeLeon’s biggest hit.
From "Small Steps" by Louis Sachar
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
It contains a very complete intro- duction to the Internet and classroom Internet projects for K12 teachers.
From Email 101 by John Goodwin
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
“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
All they worry about is whether he is worth double-column headings, a long primer intro., and a line across the page.
From Our Elizabeth A Humour Novel by Florence A. (Florence Antoinette) Kilpatrick
So when my Google searches treat my request for info about sitcom intros of years past like splitting the atom, I get suspicious.
From Salon ● Jun. 10, 2026
During his intros, Ding offers a loopy little wave to the camera that looks like he’s still getting the hang of it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026
They targeted mistletoe, musical intros that go “1, 2, 3, 4!” and in Chinese Trends, orange chicken.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 21, 2025
The result is one of the most recognisable intros in the history of pop.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2024
“Eventually I became what I grew up with, which is a folk music act with a funny monologist, making funny intros to songs.”
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 26, 2024
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
