precursor

noun

pre·​cur·​sor pri-ˈkər-sər How to pronounce precursor (audio) ˈprē-ˌkər- How to pronounce precursor (audio)
1
a
: one that precedes and indicates the approach of another
2
: a substance, cell, or cellular component from which another substance, cell, or cellular component is formed
precursory
pri-ˈkərs-rē How to pronounce precursor (audio)
-ˈkər-sə-
adjective

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Precursor Has Latin Roots

With its prefix pre-, meaning "before", a precursor is literally a "forerunner", and in fact forerunner first appeared as the translation of the Latin praecursor. But the two words function a little differently today. A forerunner may simply come before another thing, but a precursor generally paves the way for something. So, for example, the Office of Strategic Services in World War II was the immediate precursor of today's Central Intelligence Agency, while the blues music of the 1930s and 1940s was only one of the precursors of the rock and roll of today.

Choose the Right Synonym for precursor

forerunner, precursor, harbinger, herald mean one that goes before or announces the coming of another.

forerunner is applicable to anything that serves as a sign or presage.

the blockade was the forerunner of war

precursor applies to a person or thing paving the way for the success or accomplishment of another.

18th century poets like Burns were precursors of the Romantics

harbinger and herald both apply, chiefly figuratively, to one that proclaims or announces the coming or arrival of a notable event.

their early victory was the harbinger of a winning season
the herald of a new age in medicine

Examples of precursor in a Sentence

18th-century lyric poets like Robert Burns were precursors of the Romantics a precursor of the modern eggplant
Recent Examples on the Web Interestingly, he’s never even managed a major precursor trophy from the likes of the Golden Globes or SAG for any of his previous bids. Clayton Davis, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024 The Sony film had won numerous precursor awards, including topping the Annie Awards and receiving the Producers Guild award for animated feature. Hilary Lewis, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2024 Does the restructuring announced Thursday serve as a precursor to moves that would eventually bring Arsenal into the management structure? Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Around the same time, chaturanga (the precursor of chess) emerged in India, while the Egyptians invented senet, in which players raced each other to the end of the board, similar to cribbage. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024 New precursor conditions like prediabetes also expand the number of people defined as having a disease. Paula Span, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2024 But in the mid-2000s, the once-plentiful meth houses in the Midwest and northern states began to disappear amid new restrictions banning access to the drug’s precursor chemicals. Lisa Cavazuti, NBC News, 10 Feb. 2024 The Lumpkin property became a seminary immediately after the Civil War and was the precursor to Virginia Union University, a historically Black institution. Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024 Because insulin resistance is a precursor to both, researchers estimate the number of people with insulin resistance is much higher. Knvul Sheikh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'precursor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English precursoure, from Latin praecursor, from praecurrere to run before, from prae- pre- + currere to run — more at current entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of precursor was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near precursor

Cite this Entry

“Precursor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precursor. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

precursor

noun
pre·​cur·​sor pri-ˈkər-sər How to pronounce precursor (audio) ˈprē-ˌkər- How to pronounce precursor (audio)
1
2
: a substance or cell from which another substance or cell is formed

Medical Definition

precursor

noun
pre·​cur·​sor pri-ˈkər-sər How to pronounce precursor (audio) ˈprē-ˌ How to pronounce precursor (audio)
1
: one that precedes and indicates the onset of another
angina may be the precursor of a second infarction
2
: a substance, cell, or cellular component from which another substance, cell, or cellular component is formed especially by natural processes

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