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.

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verb (used with object)

preluded, preluding

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)

preluded, preluding

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

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verb

1. to serve as a prelude to (something)

2. (tr) to introduce by a prelude

Other Word Forms

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

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

Administration officials fielded phone calls from executives and political allies trying to decipher whether Trump’s threat was a bluff or a prelude to an escalation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

A year later he won the World Cup crystal globe in the slalom as a prelude to his split with the Norwegian set-up.

From Barron's • Feb. 14, 2026

Seen now, Annie feels almost like a prelude to Roy's later life as a feted novelist and one of India's most polarising writers.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

Its first prelude is now very well known - and incidentally made up entirely of a chord sequence, no melody, exactly as Bach’s hero Vivaldi might have done.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Related Words

• introduction
• prologue