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

Relevance
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 This essay opens with a preamble that directly addresses your audience. — Literary Hub, 9 June 2026 The Illinois budget and good policies are the catalyst to achieving the goals in the preamble. — Willie Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for preamble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preamble
  1. prelude
  2. introduction
  3. preliminary
  4. preface
  5. foreword
Noun
  • Cooper—who is reportedly in Paris to film a prelude to Ocean’s Eleven with Margot Robbie—was not pictured.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Marvel services fans with a bevy of delightful Easter eggs, but the film works better as an extended prelude to Endgame than as its own story.
    — EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of prelude
Noun
  • Zoe’s introduction is also step one of a pretty funny set of small-town reveals, the next of which is the defense attorney who comes to Hal’s aid in court the next morning, Billy Macon (Jason Ritter).
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Native plants are species that have occurred in a region without the benefit of human introduction.
    — Dr. Lauren Kurtz, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of introduction
Noun
  • But all of that was just the preliminaries for Grady Emerson.
    — John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of preliminary
Noun
  • What could have been a throwaway nibble instead becomes a thought-through, gripping preface that sets up what’s to come.
    — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of preface
Noun
  • The 365-page book, which includes a foreword from author and presidential historian Douglas Brinkley, is written in both prose and poem form.
    — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Karim Lakhani wrote the foreword to Microsoft's 2026 Work Trend Index.
    — Brandon Metcalf, Forbes.com, 17 July 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 17 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on preamble

Nglish: Translation of preamble for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about preamble

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All