prequel

noun

pre·​quel ˈprē-kwəl How to pronounce prequel (audio)
: a work (such as a novel or a play) whose story precedes that of an earlier work
… the real payoff will be for the next Star Wars, an expected prequel to the previous three movies.—Laurence Hooper

Examples of prequel in a Sentence

His next film will be a prequel to last year's hit movie.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Austin Stowell stars as a young Gibbs in the prequel during his early days at Camp Pendleton. — Joe Otterson, Variety, 30 June 2026 Each one is a prequel to the adventures with Gru from the Despicable Me series. — Parents, 1 July 2026 The third season of HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon is off to the races. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026 The overhaul may prove to be a boon for DreamWorks, which was selected to receive $19 million for Shrek prequel Donkey. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for prequel

Word History

Etymology

pre- + -quel (as in sequel)

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prequel was in 1922

Rhymes for prequel

See All Rhymes for prequel

Browse Nearby Words

prequalify
prequel
prerace
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prequel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prequel. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on prequel

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about prequel

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