Meaning & use
precursor
A person or thing that comes before another and paves the way for it.
See it in a sentence
The telegraph is often considered a precursor to modern telecommunications.
Mild tremors can sometimes act as a precursor to a much larger earthquake.
A note on using this word
In chemistry, precursor also means a substance that produces another through a reaction, beyond its everyday historical sense.
Words with a similar meaning
forerunnerpredecessor
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
successor
Make it your own
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