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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 show's opening set the tone for the star-studded evening to follow, as British actor Sir Idris Elba kicked things off by performing the intro track to his 2007 album, American Gangster.

From BBC Sep. 5, 2026

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 public address system at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City played a short string intro.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 25, 2026

Elsewhere, the recent single American Girls gained a long, trippy intro, with Styles messing around on an old analogue keyboard, tweaking low pass filters and playing squiggly synth noises.

From BBC Jun. 13, 2026

“I thought we might use Finnick to intro and narrate the spots. If there was interest in them.”

From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

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

I'll give you an intro., if you like.

From Captivity by M. Leonora Eyles

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

I wasn’t a massive wrestling fan, but I watched the intros and stuff, but the wrestling itself, I was, like, whatever.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 23, 2025

In Dragon Ball Z, Harris's deep, distinctive voice became iconic when heard narrating recaps, intros and outros for episodes.

From BBC Oct. 8, 2024

“It’s cool, man,” he says, saying such intros have led to some “nice conversations.”

From Seattle Times Feb. 3, 2024

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