prologues

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   The introductory part of a book, play, or other work that comes before the main text.

   Grammar: Countable; usually appears with a determiner or in the plural.

   Patterns

   • the prologue to something
   • in the prologue

   The prologue introduces the main characters and sets the scene.

   I always read the prologue first to get a feel for the story.

   The novel's prologue is written from the perspective of a child.

2. 2nouncountable

   An event or action that comes before and leads to something more important.

   Grammar: Often used in the phrase 'a prologue to something'.

   Patterns

   • a prologue to something

   The border clashes were a prologue to full-scale war.

   These early experiments were just a prologue to the discovery that made her famous.

Word forms

Common combinations

write a prologue

She decided to write a prologue to explain the backstory.

read the prologue

He always reads the prologue before starting a new book.

in the prologue

The mystery is hinted at in the prologue.

a prologue to something

The treaty was a prologue to lasting peace.

Synonyms and how they differ

introduction

More general; can refer to any opening section, not just of a literary work.

preface

Usually written by the author to explain the book's purpose, while a prologue is part of the story.

foreword

Often written by someone other than the author and not part of the narrative.

Opposites

Word family

prologuize verb

To write or deliver a prologue; rare.

Commonly confused: prologues or prolog?

Practice

Make it your own

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

Explore more words