prelude
1 of 2noun
pre·lude ˈprel-ˌyüd 
ˈprāl-;
ˈpre-ˌlüd,
ˈprā-;
sense 1 also
ˈprē-ˌlüd 1
: an introductory performance, action, or event preceding and preparing for the principal or a more important matter
2
a
: a musical section or movement introducing the theme or chief subject (as of a fugue or suite) or serving as an introduction to an opera or oratorio
b
: an opening voluntary
c
: a separate concert piece usually for piano or orchestra and based entirely on a short motif
prelude
2 of 2verb
preluded; preluding
transitive verb
1
: to serve as a prelude to
2
: to play as a prelude
intransitive verb
: to give or serve as a prelude
especially : to play a musical introduction
preluder noun
Synonyms
Noun
- curtain-raiser
- overture
- preamble
- preliminary
- prologue
- prolog
- warm-up
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun an eruption of sectarian violence that proved to be the prelude to all-out civil war the musical had a brief prelude to get the audience in the proper mood
Recent Examples on the Web
Louisa Chu, Chicago Tribune, 12 Sep. 2022 Hopefully this is a prelude to us getting word of her new solo stuff not too far down the line at this point, but her just recording again at all will probably have to be enough this time around. Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 7 Sep. 2022 Barring a dramatic turn of fortune, Chinese leader Xi Jinping will stride into Beijing’s Great Hall of the People this fall to claim a third term in office—a likely prelude to life tenure. Josh Chin, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022 And while this is by definition a concert, it was structured more like a play with a prelude, four acts, a finale and a brief encore. Rodney Ho, ajc, 27 Aug. 2022 Zagreb’s contradictions offered a prelude for my Istrian road trip. Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Aug. 2022 The first episode of the series picks up in 112 AC (after a first scene prelude in 101 AC) , during the reign of Viserys I. Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 21 Aug. 2022 Together with an assumed shift towards neo-psychedelia, the album would prove trailblazing as a prelude to shoegaze, dictating the dawn of a new era for alternative British music. Spin Staff, SPIN, 15 Aug. 2022 That will serve as a prelude for an increasingly important week of practice that coincides with the first week of the semester, all leading up to the team’s pivotal second preseason scrimmage Friday. Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 14 Aug. 2022 Brian Mccollum, Detroit Free Press, 6 May 2022 This poem seems positioned as a prolusion — his word — or prelude to set a mood of contemplation, to encourage a softness or stillness, a long view, for entering what follows. Nancy Lord, Anchorage Daily News, 30 Apr. 2022 Some J-Church riders, though, are wary that such a decision could prelude a permanent route change that keeps the line out of the subway. Ricardo Cano, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Nov. 2021 In a text message, Stivers confirmed that his new job will prelude him from running for Senate. Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland, 19 Apr. 2021 Igbani and prisoner advocates have urged the prison agency to hold an education campaign to prelude the vaccination. Jolie Mccullough Jolie Mccullough, ExpressNews.com, 25 Dec. 2020 In his Auburn classroom, Busbin preludes his Civil War unit by spending several days with his students learning about enslavement. al, 1 Mar. 2020 Weather The first half took more than 4 hours and was preluded by a lightning delay. Jake Shapiro, The Denver Post, 5 July 2019 In a move that was expected and could prelude further transactions, the Bulls on Thursday announced the team waived guard Sean Kilpatrick. Malika Andrews, chicagotribune.com, 12 July 2018 See More
Noun
The nutty, hard cheese wisps prove a prelude, like bubbles to Champagne, of the complex depth hidden. Louisa Chu, Chicago Tribune, 12 Sep. 2022 Hopefully this is a prelude to us getting word of her new solo stuff not too far down the line at this point, but her just recording again at all will probably have to be enough this time around. Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 7 Sep. 2022 Barring a dramatic turn of fortune, Chinese leader Xi Jinping will stride into Beijing’s Great Hall of the People this fall to claim a third term in office—a likely prelude to life tenure. Josh Chin, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022 And while this is by definition a concert, it was structured more like a play with a prelude, four acts, a finale and a brief encore. Rodney Ho, ajc, 27 Aug. 2022 Zagreb’s contradictions offered a prelude for my Istrian road trip. Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Aug. 2022 The first episode of the series picks up in 112 AC (after a first scene prelude in 101 AC) , during the reign of Viserys I. Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 21 Aug. 2022 Together with an assumed shift towards neo-psychedelia, the album would prove trailblazing as a prelude to shoegaze, dictating the dawn of a new era for alternative British music. Spin Staff, SPIN, 15 Aug. 2022 That will serve as a prelude for an increasingly important week of practice that coincides with the first week of the semester, all leading up to the team’s pivotal second preseason scrimmage Friday. Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 14 Aug. 2022 Verb
The raucous musical spirit and activist bent of the MC5 was on the agenda at the cozy Detroit venue, as Kramer and his new bandmates kicked off the Heavy Lifting Tour, prelude to a fall album that will be first since 1971 to bear the MC5 name. Brian Mccollum, Detroit Free Press, 6 May 2022 This poem seems positioned as a prolusion — his word — or prelude to set a mood of contemplation, to encourage a softness or stillness, a long view, for entering what follows. Nancy Lord, Anchorage Daily News, 30 Apr. 2022 Some J-Church riders, though, are wary that such a decision could prelude a permanent route change that keeps the line out of the subway. Ricardo Cano, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Nov. 2021 In a text message, Stivers confirmed that his new job will prelude him from running for Senate. Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland, 19 Apr. 2021 Igbani and prisoner advocates have urged the prison agency to hold an education campaign to prelude the vaccination. Jolie Mccullough Jolie Mccullough, ExpressNews.com, 25 Dec. 2020 In his Auburn classroom, Busbin preludes his Civil War unit by spending several days with his students learning about enslavement. al, 1 Mar. 2020 Weather The first half took more than 4 hours and was preluded by a lightning delay. Jake Shapiro, The Denver Post, 5 July 2019 In a move that was expected and could prelude further transactions, the Bulls on Thursday announced the team waived guard Sean Kilpatrick. Malika Andrews, chicagotribune.com, 12 July 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle French, from Medieval Latin praeludium, from Latin praeludere to play beforehand, from prae- + ludere to play — more at ludicrous
First Known Use
Noun
1561, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1632, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Phrases Containing prelude
Kids Definition
prelude
noun
pre·lude ˈprel-ˌyüd
ˈprā-ˌlüd
1
: something that comes before and prepares for the main or more important parts
2
: a short piece of music played at the beginning of something (as an opera or church service)
prelude
noun
1
as in prologue
a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event an eruption of sectarian violence that proved to be the prelude to all-out civil war Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- prologue
- overture
- preliminary
- start
- warm-up
- curtain-raiser
- preamble
- kickoff
- countdown
- prolog
- lead-in
- run-up
2
as in introduction
a short section (as of a book) that leads to or explains the main part the musical had a brief prelude to get the audience in the proper mood Synonyms & Similar Words
- introduction
- preface
- foreword
- intro
- prologue
- proem
- exordium
- beginning
- preamble
- start
- initiation
- commencement
- prolog
- prolusion
- opening
- outset
- origination
- origin
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- epilogue
- postscript
- aftermath
- epilog
- finale
- end
- conclusion
- closing
- envoy
- stop
- close
- cessation
- termination
- finish
- envoi