prequel

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A film, book, series, or game that tells a story set before the events of an earlier work.

   Grammar: Countable; use a/an or the plural prequels. Often followed by to + the original work: a prequel to the novel.

   Patterns

   • a prequel to something
   • the prequel
   • a prequel series/film

   The studio announced a prequel to the popular fantasy series.

   Fans debated whether the prequel explained the villain's origins well.

   She preferred the prequel because it focused on the characters' youth.

2. 2nouncountable

   A work that comes before another in a series, especially in terms of release order.

   Grammar: Countable; can refer to any earlier installment, not only one set earlier in time.

   Patterns

   • the first prequel
   • a prequel in the series

   The first prequel was released years after the original trilogy ended.

   Critics noted that the prequel relied too much on nostalgia.

Word forms

Common combinations

a prequel to

The novel is a prequel to the award-winning play.

prequel trilogy

The prequel trilogy divided longtime fans.

release a prequel

The game company decided to release a prequel after the success of the sequel.

prequel series

The streaming service ordered a prequel series about the queen's early life.

Synonyms and how they differ

origin story

Emphasizes how a character or situation began, while a prequel can cover any earlier period, not just origins.

backstory

Refers to the background history itself, not a separate work; a prequel is a full work that presents such history.

Opposites

Word family

sequel noun

A work that continues the story of an earlier one.

Commonly confused: prequel or sequel?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “prequel”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words