prelude

[ prel-yood, preyl-, prey-lood, pree- ]

/ ˈprɛl yud, ˈpreɪl-, ˈpreɪ lud, ˈpri- /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for prelude on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

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

Music.

a relatively short, independent instrumental composition, free in form and resembling an improvisation.
a piece that precedes a more important movement.
the overture to an opera.
an independent piece, of moderate length, sometimes used as an introduction to a fugue.
music opening a church service; an introductory voluntary.

verb (used with object), prel·ud·ed, prel·ud·ing.

to serve as a prelude or introduction to.

to introduce by a prelude.

to play as a prelude.

verb (used without object), prel·ud·ed, prel·ud·ing.

to serve as a prelude.

to give a prelude.

to play a prelude.

OTHER WORDS FOR prelude

1 introduction, opening, beginning.

See synonyms for prelude on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

OTHER WORDS FROM prelude

prel·ud·er, nounpre·lu·di·al

[pri-loo-dee-uhl], /prɪˈlu di əl/, pre·lu·di·ous, adjectivepre·lu·di·ous·ly, adverbun·prel·ud·ed, adjective

Words nearby prelude

prelims, prelingually deaf, preliterate, Prelog, preloved, prelude, Preludin, prelusion, prelusive, prem., Premarin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use prelude in a sentence

Maybe, he hopes, acting well onstage will serve as a prelude to acting better in real life.
Ethan Hawke turns his acting experience — and past infidelities — into brilliant fiction|Ron Charles|February 2, 2021|Washington Post
Morell emphasized that SolarWinds appears to have "just" been espionage and not, apparently, some type of prelude to destruction.
The uncomfortable reality of American cyber espionage|Zach Dorfman of the Aspen Institute|January 27, 2021|Axios
It was a prelude for Brooks, and by the time he got to his microphone, my imagination was primed.
The Healing Power of Garth Brooks|Philip Elliott|January 21, 2021|Time
It felt like a prelude, a 26-year-old entering the mastery phase of stardom.
John Wall gave the Wizards their last great memory. Then it all fell apart.|Jerry Brewer|December 3, 2020|Washington Post

Perhaps as a prelude to this attempt, researchers just published a number of new studies about the geochemistry of Bennu today in the journals Science and Science Advances, providing some of the biggest revelations to date.
Asteroid Bennu may have been home to ancient water flows|Neel Patel|October 8, 2020|MIT Technology Review
There was an entryway near here to another courtyard, itself a prelude to the heart of the main temple.
Fighting Back With Faith: Inside the Yezidis’ Iraqi Temple|Michael Luongo|August 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This could be a prelude to peace talks—or intensified fighting.
Shakeup In the Ukraine Rebel High Command|Jamie Dettmer|August 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Or will they be merely the dark prelude to an even darker future?
Can Generation Hot Avoid Its Fate?|Mark Hertsgaard|April 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We should hope this only sounds like a prelude to an intervention.
Here's What It's Like to Fight Vitali Klitschko, Ukraine’s Revolutionary Champ|Michael Daly|February 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Marguerite hoped it would be the prelude to a book she wanted to write, and asked if I could get it published somewhere.
Oswald’s Mother Was a Thoroughly Disagreeable Piece of Work|Steve North|November 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
A full, busy youth is your only prelude to a self-contained and independent age; and the muff inevitably develops into a bore.
The Pocket R.L.S.|Robert Louis Stevenson
A trifling dispute with which his reign began was the prelude to very serious events.
Belgium|George W. T. (George William Thomson) Omond
And so, with this prelude, I may as well tell without more delay what evil fortune was in store for us.
The Way of a Man|Emerson Hough
Is it not possible that Chopin may have afterwards substituted the new Prelude for one of those already forwarded to France?
Frederick Chopin as a Man and Musician|Frederick Niecks
Chopin began generally to prelude apathetically and only gradually grew warm, but then his playing was really grand.
Frederick Chopin as a Man and Musician|Frederick Niecks

British Dictionary definitions for prelude

prelude

/ (ˈprɛljuːd) /

noun

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

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

verb

to serve as a prelude to (something)

(tr) to introduce by a prelude

Derived forms of prelude

preluder (prɪˈljuːdə, ˈprɛljʊdə), nounpreludial, adjectiveprelusion (prɪˈljuːʒən), nounprelusive (prɪˈljuːsɪv) or prelusory (prɪˈljuːsərɪ), adjective

prelusively or prelusorily, adverb

Word Origin for prelude

C16: (n) from Medieval Latin praelūdium, from prae before + -lūdium entertainment, from Latin lūdus play; (vb) from Late Latin praelūdere to play beforehand, rehearse, from lūdere to play

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

prelude

OTHER WORDS FOR prelude

Origin of prelude

OTHER WORDS FROM prelude

Words nearby prelude

Words related to prelude

How to use prelude in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for prelude

Derived forms of prelude

Word Origin for prelude