preamble

noun

ˈprē-ˌam-bəl How to pronounce preamble (audio)
Definition of preamblenext
1
as in prelude
a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event the round of hors d'oeuvres was merely the preamble to an evening of lavish feasting

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in introduction
a short section (as of a book) that leads to or explains the main part an insightful analysis of the preamble to the Constitution of the United States

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of preamble The preamble to the code recognizes that visual journalists are trustees of the public by providing independent, diverse views of events and issues and exposing wrongdoing. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 May 2026 Victory in the Derby della Madonnina was, in Milan’s case, the preamble to an unexpected defeat to depressed Lazio. — James Horncastle, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2026 During Pennsylvania’s ratifying convention later that year, Wilson aptly explained the preamble’s significance. — Jesse Wegman, The Atlantic, 20 June 2026 We are thrown into the story without preamble, after a government shadow agency called WARDEX, headed by Firth’s Noah Scanlon, has kidnapped Jane Blankenship (Eve Hewson) as a means of getting to her slippery boyfriend Daniel Kellner (O’Connor). — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for preamble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preamble
  1. prelude
  2. introduction
  3. preliminary
  4. preface
  5. foreword
Noun
  • Analysts widely believe Monday’s announcement is a prelude to eventual sales of both Comcast and NBCUniversal, a theory that Comcast rejects.
    — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • The current ceasefire is likely a prelude to the next round of war.
    — Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of prelude
Noun
  • The demonstration also represented the public debut of the production version of Atlas in a live event following its introduction earlier this year at CES 2026.
    — Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • He was given a loud ovation during Saturday’s player introductions in his first NBA game before Jazz fans in Utah.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 5 July 2026
Definition of introduction
Noun
  • The meet continues Thursday, a day consisting largely of women’s preliminaries, followed by men’s finals Friday and women’s finals Saturday.
    — Mike Wilson, New York Times, 11 June 2026
  • Hernandez, now a Southern Section champion again, along with all the other winners will move onto the CIF preliminaries next Saturday to face the rest of the state's top female jumpers, with a chance to get back to the state finals.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
Definition of preliminary
Noun
  • In the preface of her new book, MJ Corey offers a note of apology for pouring so much energy into analyzing a family that’s famously famous for being famous, and for little else, said Megan Garber in The Atlantic.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 10 June 2026
  • The book arrives on the scene six years before Wordsworth’s preface to the Lyrical Ballads (considered the first Romantic manifesto).
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
Definition of preface
Noun
  • As Dubner himself acknowledged in the anniversary foreword, the original book was written without a central thesis tying everything together.
    — Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • The book, co-authored by Darren Grubb and Johnny Russo, featured a foreword by Letterman.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
Definition of foreword

Browse Nearby Words

preadolescences
preamble
preambles
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Preamble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preamble. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on preamble

Nglish: Translation of preamble for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about preamble

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