Vocabulary in context
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Precursor
A person or thing that comes before something else and signals or leads to that later development; a forerunner.
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Imagine This
Imagine a lone scout ahead of a marching army. The scout's footprints are the precursor, signaling that the rest of the army will soon advance.
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Sounds Like
PREE-kur-sor
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Looks Like
pre-cursor (a runner before), visually suggesting 'before + runner'
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Remember This
Precursor literally implies something that comes before and foreshadows what follows; related words include 'predecessor' and 'harbinger'.
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Other Forms
precursorsnoun
precursoryadjective
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Connect With
forerunner, harbinger, foreshadow, omen, antecedent, predecessor
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Note
Use 'precursor to' or 'precursor of' to indicate what leads to a future development. Do not confuse with 'predecessor,' which refers to a person who came before, often in a position or office.
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Study Deeper
Examples
- The discovery of penicillin was a precursor to modern antibiotics.
- Dark clouds and a drop in barometric pressure are precursors to a storm.
Synonyms
forerunnerpredecessorharbingerantecedentprecedent
Antonyms
successorfollower
Etymology
From Latin praecursor, from prae- 'before' + cursor 'runner' (literally 'one who runs before'). The English form preserves the sense of moving before what follows.
Mnemonic
PRECURSOR: PRE (before) + CURSOR (runner). A runner that goes before you signals what comes next.
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adjectiveNot discouraged or intimidated; remaining fearless and resolute when facing danger or difficulty.
Autonomy
nounThe state of being self-governing or independent; the capacity to act with self-direction and make one’s own decisions.
Momentous
adjectiveOf great importance or consequence; having a significant and lasting impact.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Abasement
nounThe act or instance of humiliating or degrading someone; the state of being lowered in dignity or status.
Absurdity
nounThe quality or state of being wildly unreasonable, illogical, or ridiculous; something that is completely contrary to reason or common sense.
Accent
nounA distinctive way of pronouncing words; the act of emphasizing a syllable or word (as a verb, to accent means to emphasize).
Accolade
nounAn honor; a public expression of praise or an award.
Acrimony
nounBitterness of speech or manner; ill feeling
Acronym
nounA word formed from the initial letters of a phrase, pronounced as a single word and used as a shorthand for the full name (for example, NASA or radar).
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