prelude
word
Definition
A prelude is something that happens before a more important event or action, often serving as an introduction. In music, a prelude is a short piece that comes at the beginning of a longer composition.
Usage & Nuances
Formal or literary; commonly used in music or when discussing events as harbingers. In music, 'prelude' names a genre; in other contexts, it emphasizes that something is setting the stage for what follows. Not to be confused with 'preview' (advance look) or 'prologue' (intro to a story).
Example Sentences
The soft music was a prelude to the wedding ceremony.
basic
Rain was the prelude to the coming storm.
basic
The pianist played a short prelude before the main piece.
basic
That heated argument was just a prelude to larger problems in their relationship.
natural
For many, the industrial revolution was the prelude to the modern world.
natural
You could say that this project is the prelude to bigger things ahead for the company.
natural