Synonyms for precursor
Most common
All synonyms
Noun
1. Forerunner
forerunner, harbinger, predecessor, antecedent, herald, progenitor, messenger, omen, outrider, foregoer, ancestor, antecessor dated
Definitions
- n. 1
That which precurses: a forerunner, predecessor, or indicator of approaching events.
Related words
- Word family
- precursory
- Phrases
- precursor enzyme
Forms
- Plural
- precursors → forerunners, harbingers, predecessors, antecedents…
Example sentences
- predecessor His background parallels that of his predecessor.
- forerunner Alchemy was the forerunner of modern chemistry.
- harbinger The crowing of a cock is the harbinger of dawn.
- antecedent Alchemy was the antecedent of chemistry.
- prelude They came early so they wouldn't miss the prelude.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| precursor | rising | |
| predecessor | steady | |
| forerunner | falling | |
| harbinger | rising | |
| antecedent | steady | |
| prelude | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- omen2
- 6 letters
- herald2
- 7 letters
- pioneer3, prelude2
- 8 letters
- ancestor3, outrider3, foregoer
- 9 letters
- messenger3, precedent3, harbinger3
- 10 letters
- forerunner3, progenitor4, antecedent4, antecessor
- 11 letters
- predecessor4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (omen2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- précurseur
- Italiano
- precursore
- Deutsch
- Vorläufer