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.
That doesn’t include remakes, prequels, spinoffs, streaming films, movies that made less than that, or just ripoffs of better movies. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 10 Aug. 2026 Set before the books and HBO series, the nearly four-hour prequel deepens Westeros lore, blending Shakespearean drama with answers to questions fans obsess over. — Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026 You’re slated to work with Margot Robbie and Bradley Cooper in the upcoming Ocean’s prequel. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2026 The Game Of Thrones prequel has had a much, much better run this season than last. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 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 15 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on prequel

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about prequel

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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