as in to foreshadow
to give a slight indication of beforehand
the first crocus traditionally prefigures the arrival of spring
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Recent Examples of prefigure
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prefigure
Verb
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The women's conference tournament foreshadowed a chaotic (but oh-so-good) March Madness.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA TODAY,
11 Mar. 2025
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The New York Yankees’ worst nightmare has come true, though there were certainly signs that foreshadowed their most devastating injury yet this spring.—
Gary Phillips,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Tremble didn’t have the 2024 season that many predicted.—
Alex Zietlow and,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Mar. 2025
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Women possessed by the gods were oracles, predicting the future in cryptic utterances.—
Vipin Bharathan,
Forbes,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
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This implies a very strong Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 2.1% (vs. 19.0% for S&P 500).—
Trefis Team,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
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Jonas’ price target of $430 implies shares can rebound 93.6% over the next year from Monday’s closing level.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Dalman, 26, just reached the end of his rookie contract with the Atlanta Falcons and is heralded as a smart, steady lineman who can be an asset as a run blocker.—
Sean Hammond,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2025
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But the opening of the island’s airport in 1989 heralded the dawn of mass tourism, prompting the disgruntled beatniks to roam farther afield in search of Buddhist nirvana.—
Charlie Campbell,
TIME,
17 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Every organization anticipates retirements and resignations.—
Sherzod Odilov,
Forbes,
9 Mar. 2025
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No one should have anticipated what Williams had done.—
Louisa Thomas,
The New Yorker,
9 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prefigure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prefigure. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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