prefigure
verb
pre·fig·ure
ˌprē-ˈfi-gyər 
especially British -ˈfi-gə
prefigured; prefiguring; prefigures
1
: to show, suggest, or announce by an antecedent type, image, or likeness
2
: to picture or imagine beforehand
Examples of prefigure in a Sentence
His style of painting prefigured the development of modern art.
the first crocus traditionally prefigures the arrival of spring
Recent Examples on the Web
The details are what captivate; chrome strips on the hood and sides, and exquisite chrome hood hinges prefiguring the decklid hinges on Ferrari’s 275 GTB/4.
—
Robert Ross, Robb Report, 1 Nov. 2024
Woody’s facial-recognition research in the 1960s prefigured all these technological breakthroughs and their queasy ethical implications.
—Shaun Raviv, WIRED, 21 Jan. 2020
The index, which measures wholesale prices – and thus generally prefigures changes in the CPI – was unchanged in September from August, defying expectations from a Dow Jones survey of a 0.1% increase.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2024
Westchester County during the Revolutionary War prefigured the Wild West before that concept had entered a dime novelist’s mind.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for prefigure 
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Robert Ross, Robb Report, 1 Nov. 2024
Woody’s facial-recognition research in the 1960s prefigured all these technological breakthroughs and their queasy ethical implications.
—Shaun Raviv, WIRED, 21 Jan. 2020
The index, which measures wholesale prices – and thus generally prefigures changes in the CPI – was unchanged in September from August, defying expectations from a Dow Jones survey of a 0.1% increase.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2024
Westchester County during the Revolutionary War prefigured the Wild West before that concept had entered a dime novelist’s mind.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for prefigure
Dictionary Entries Near prefigure
Cite this Entry
“Prefigure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prefigure. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prefigure
verb
pre·fig·ure
(ˈ)prē-ˈfig-yər
especially British -ˈfig-ər
1
: to show, suggest, or announce by an earlier type, image, or likeness
the first crocus prefigures the arrival of spring
2
: to picture or imagine beforehand
prefigure the outcome of the game
prefiguration
noun
(ˌ)prē-ˌfig-(y)ə-ˈrā-shən
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