Meaning & use
prologue
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Meanings
nouncountable
An introductory section of a book, play, or other work that gives background before the main story.
Grammar: Countable; often used with 'a' or 'the'. Compare 'epilogue' at the end.
Patterns
- in the prologue
- a prologue to something
The prologue introduces the main characters and setting.
In the prologue, the author explains how the idea for the book came about.
nouncountablefigurative
An event or action that serves as an introduction to something larger.
Grammar: Countable; often used figuratively with 'to'.
Patterns
- a prologue to something
The minor skirmish was just a prologue to the full-scale war.
These early experiments were a prologue to the discovery of penicillin.
Word forms
| plural | prologues |
|---|
Common combinations
- write a prologue
- She decided to write a prologue to explain the backstory.
- read the prologue
- I always read the prologue first to get oriented.
- in the prologue
- The mystery is hinted at in the prologue.
- prologue to the play
- The actor delivered a short prologue to the play.
Synonyms and how they differ
- introduction
- More general; can refer to any beginning, while prologue is specifically a separate section before the main work.
- preface
- Often written by the author to explain the book's purpose; a prologue is more narrative.
- foreword
- Usually written by someone other than the author; a prologue is part of the story.
- preamble
- Used for official documents; prologue is for literary or dramatic works.
Opposites
Word family
- prologuize verb
- To write or deliver a prologue (rare).
Commonly confused: prologue or epilogue? prologue or monologue?
prologue vs epilogue
An epilogue is at the end of a work, while a prologue is at the beginning.
prologue vs monologue
A long speech by one person; not an introductory section.
Practice
The play begins with a ______ that sets the scene in ancient Greece.
Choose one answer.
A prologue is an introductory section. An epilogue is at the end. A monologue is a speech by one person. Dialogue is conversation.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “prologue”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.