prologue

American  

[proh-lawg, -log] / ˈproʊ lɔg, -lɒg /

Or prolog

noun

prologues plural

1. a preliminary discourse; a preface or introductory part of a discourse, poem, or novel.

2. an introductory speech, often in verse, calling attention to the theme of a play.

3. the actor or actress who delivers the introductory speech that calls attention to the theme of a play.

4. an introductory scene, preceding the first act of a play, opera, etc.

5. any introductory proceeding, event, etc..

   Appetizing delicacies were the prologue to a long dinner.

   Synonyms:

   prelude, opening, beginning, preamble

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verb (used with object)

prologued, prologuing

1. to introduce with or as if with a prologue.

prologue British  

/ ˈprəʊlɒɡ /

noun

1. 1. the prefatory lines introducing a play or speech

   2. the actor speaking these lines

2. a preliminary act or event

3. 1. an introductory scene in which a narrator summarizes the main action of the work

   2. a brief independent play preceding the opera, esp one in honour of a patron

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verb

1. (tr) to introduce or preface with or as if with a prologue

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• prologist
  noun
• prologuist
  noun
• prologlike
  adjective
• prologuelike
  adjective
• unprologued
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• prologues
  plural

Etymology

Origin of prologue

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English prolog(e), prologue, from Old French prologue and Latin prologus, from Greek prólogos; see pro- ², -logue

Explanation

With the lines, "Two households, both alike in dignity," Shakespeare begins the prologue to Romeo and Juliet, setting up the idea of two families who hate each other before introducing the lovers in the opening scene. Like its buddy epilogue, which tells you what happens after the end of a story, a prologue is concerned with setup of a story. "As a prologue to what happened in the gym, I'll tell you about the food fight in the cafeteria earlier that day."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

prologue prologues prologued

“It’s Florida, Man,” HBO Max “What you’re about to see may be dangerous, illegal, unethical, petty, misguided, immoral and most definitely stupid,” a prologue warns at the top of each episode.

From Salon ● Jul. 1, 2026

"Persistently high prices are a burden for the American people, but the recent past need not be prologue," he said after the meeting at which he also wanted wide-ranging reforms at the bank.

From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026

But if past is prologue, the courts won’t willingly implement reform.

From Slate ● Jun. 8, 2026

The past was more than prologue even for the more prominent new musicals.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026

“Say, what’re you doing today, anyhow? All dressed up and mooning around like the prologue to a suttee. Did you go to Psychology this morning?”

From "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner

In the show’s second season, episode prologues that tell characters’ back stories function as short films of their own, with distinct tones and time frames.

From New York Times ● Jan. 31, 2022

Similar notes often appear in the prologues of scientific innovation or inventor profiles, interestingly enough.

From Salon ● May 15, 2019

Forewords, prefaces and afterwords rank squarely among literature’s stepchildren — above marginalia and non-David Foster Wallace footnotes perhaps but below prologues and postscripts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 11, 2019

In it, Leonard warned writers to avoid such flourishes as prologues, adverbs and overwrought descriptions and to keep their exclamation points under control.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 15, 2014

Peter Anthony Motteux, the editor of the first English magazine, was also the author of several songs, plays, and prologues, and he also published a translation of Don Quixote.

From The Pictorial Press Its Origin and Progress by Jackson, Mason

This was one of three events that probably clouded the sunlit hours of the early comedies and prologued the dark vision of the great tragedies.

From Time Magazine Archive

No wonder he prologued his piping after the following dismal fashion:—   "In dreary verse my rhymes I make,   Bewailing whilst such theme I take."

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 03, No. 15, January, 1859 by Various

"If I fail," and Warren was dumbfounded, even after the unreal scenes which had prologued this situation.

From The Ghost Breaker A Novel Based Upon the Play by Goddard, Charles

Related Words

• foreword
• prelude