Meaning & use

prologue

noun·Academic

An introductory section of a book, play, or other work that provides context before the main story begins.

See it in a sentence

The novel's prologue reveals a murder that the rest of the book slowly explains.

An actor delivered the prologue directly to the audience before the curtain rose.

A note on using this word

Figuratively, "prologue" can describe an event seen as a preview of something larger to come.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “prologue”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.