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Definitions

precursor

[pri-kur-ser, pree-kur-] / prɪˈkɜr sər, ˈpri kɜr- /
NOUN
something that indicates outcome or event beforehand
Synonyms




Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Office of Strategic Services—the precursor to the Central Intelligence Agency—recruited him to lead an American spy network in Greece.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

Some of the companies, such as telecom equipment maker Lucent Technologies and smartphone precursor Palm, have all but disappeared.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

Another factor could be cabinet resignations, which as we saw with the previous Conservative government, can be a precursor to a prime minister being forced to stand down.

From BBC • May 10, 2026

Department of Homeland Security, a precursor to filing a federal civil rights lawsuit against the agency.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

It was the precursor to the cocktail party effect, named by another British researcher, Edward Colin Cherry, in 1953.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel




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