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prologue

noun
pro·​logue | \ ˈprō-ˌlȯg How to pronounce prologue (audio) , -ˌläg\
variants: or less commonly prolog

Definition of prologue

1 : the preface or introduction to a literary work
2a : a speech often in verse addressed to the audience by an actor at the beginning of a play
b : the actor speaking such a prologue
3 : an introductory or preceding event or development
Synonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about prologue

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Did You Know?

In ancient Greek drama, the prologos (a word that means basically "speaking before") was the opening portion of the play, before the entry of the all-important chorus. It might be spoken by a single actor, maybe playing a god, who would "set the scene" for the audience. Playwrights today instead often provide the same kind of "scene-setting" information through dialogue near the play's beginning; in movies, it may appear (as in the "Star Wars" series) in the form of actual written text. In a nonfiction book, the lead-in is now usually called a preface or introduction; novels rarely provide any introduction at all. Still, prologue remains a useful word for nonliterary purposes. The saying "The past is prologue" tells us that, in real life, almost everything can be a prologue to what follows it.

Examples of prologue in a Sentence

the prologue to his autobiography unfortunately, the burglary, which he committed while still a teen, was but a prologue to a wasted life of crime

Recent Examples on the Web

 In the prologue, a baby — an adult dancer with a baby’s huge, roughly drawn head and bulging arms and legs — emerges, kicking its way to life and haltingly learning to walk. — Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, "Nearly 100, the Salzburg Festival Doesn’t Wait to Celebrate," 16 Aug. 2019 If past is prologue, that would be particularly politically perilous. — Jonathan Allen, NBC News, "The GOP would like Steve King to kindly shut up," 14 Aug. 2019 If past is prologue, there won’t be a lot of actual hearing. — Krista Kafer, The Denver Post, "Kafer: Colorado officials ignore public opinion and basic economics to our peril," 8 Aug. 2019 As a brief scene-setting prologue showing Banks watching kids playing football underlines, skill on the football field has always signified freedom to him, the feeling that nothing could fence him in or keep him down. — Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times, "Review: Aldis Hodge shines in ‘Brian Banks’ as a man fighting to clear his name," 8 Aug. 2019 As a brief scene-setting prologue showing Banks watching kids playing football underlines, skill on the football field has always signified freedom to him, the feeling that nothing could fence him in or keep him down. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Review: Aldis Hodge shines in ‘Brian Banks’ as a man fighting to clear his name," 8 Aug. 2019 The occasionally juicy anecdotes involving the swarm of Millennial cultural revolutionaries who convinced their elders to serve him up in sacrifice to the hivemind are absorbing, but they are relegated to the prologue. — Noah Rothman, National Review, "Kevin Williamson’s Revolt against the Hivemind," 25 July 2019 The prologue packs some power in its own right as a reminder of the many people for whom our society has failed, but the connection to the play is never really made. — Sam Hurwitt, The Mercury News, "Review: ‘Macbeth’ in SF gets stunning update, with mixed results," 19 July 2019 Aster’s prologue shows us a series of densely popular frescoes detailing ritualistic pagan dances and copulations, as a menacing sun oversees the activity. — Michael Phillips, chicagotribune.com, "‘Midsommar’ review: ‘Hereditary’ director follows up with a scary vacation trip," 25 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prologue.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of prologue

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for prologue

Middle English prolog, from Anglo-French prologue, from Latin prologus preface to a play, from Greek prologos part of a Greek play preceding the entry of the chorus, from pro- before + legein to speak — more at pro-, legend

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More Definitions for prologue

prologue

noun
How to pronounce prologue (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of prologue

: an introduction to a book, play, etc.

See the full definition for prologue in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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More from Merriam-Webster on prologue

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with prologue

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for prologue

Spanish Central: Translation of prologue

Nglish: Translation of prologue for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of prologue for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about prologue

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