Precursor
noun
Something that comes before another thing and leads to it or influences its development.
Dinosaurs are believed to be the precursors of birds.
Often appears as...
- chemical precursor
- biological precursor
noun
A substance from which another is formed, especially by metabolic reaction.
Cholesterol is the precursor to Vitamin D in our bodies.
Often appears as...
- enzyme precursor
- metabolic precursor
Usage tips
Academic
noun
An early model or version of a product or system that leads to a later, more developed version.
The prototype was a precursor to the final design of the machine.
Often appears as...
- technological precursor
- experimental precursor
Usage tips
Technical
noun
Something that comes before another thing and leads to it or influences its development.
Dinosaurs are believed to be the precursors of birds.
Often appears as...
- chemical precursor
- biological precursor
noun
A substance from which another is formed, especially by metabolic reaction.
Cholesterol is the precursor to Vitamin D in our bodies.
Often appears as...
- enzyme precursor
- metabolic precursor
Usage tips
Academic
noun
An early model or version of a product or system that leads to a later, more developed version.
The prototype was a precursor to the final design of the machine.
Often appears as...
- technological precursor
- experimental precursor
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Events
Use 'precursor' to link historical events, showing progression or influence over time.
The Sputnik launch was a precursor to the space race.
Pro Tip 2/3Cause and Effect
Use it to talk about an event or situation that triggers another.
Frequent tardiness can be a precursor to job termination.
Pro Tip 3/3Literary Foreshadowing
In literature, 'precursor' can indicate an early sign or symbol hinting at future events.
Dark clouds are a common precursor to a storm in novels.
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Events
Use 'precursor' to link historical events, showing progression or influence over time.
The Sputnik launch was a precursor to the space race.
Pro Tip 2/3Cause and Effect
Use it to talk about an event or situation that triggers another.
Frequent tardiness can be a precursor to job termination.
Pro Tip 3/3Literary Foreshadowing
In literature, 'precursor' can indicate an early sign or symbol hinting at future events.
Dark clouds are a common precursor to a storm in novels.
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Events
Use 'precursor' to link historical events, showing progression or influence over time.
The Sputnik launch was a precursor to the space race.
Pro Tip 2/3Cause and Effect
Use it to talk about an event or situation that triggers another.
Frequent tardiness can be a precursor to job termination.
Pro Tip 3/3Literary Foreshadowing
In literature, 'precursor' can indicate an early sign or symbol hinting at future events.
Dark clouds are a common precursor to a storm in novels.
Compare with
antecedentforerunnerharbingerpioneerpredecessorprogenitortrailblazervanguard
Never forget "Precursor"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
How I climbed a...
Basically, what if I got up there and it was too scary? What if I was too tired? What if I couldn't quite make the kick? I had to consider every possibility while I was safely on the ground, so that when the time came and I was actually making the moves without a rope, there was no room for doubt to creep in. Doubt is the precursor to fear, and I knew that I couldn't experience my perfect moment if I was afraid.
Video examples
SpaceX's Supersized...
Is there life on Mars? But we also have to do due diligence to make sure that that landing site is safe for the humans to come and live and work. So once we get all that robotic precursor work done, then the humans can arrive. And this is when we start building up a base and moving towards a civilization on Mars.
Video examples
How aspirin was...
If they scraped the bark off a particular kind of tree and ate it, their pain disappeared. Little did they know that why they'd found was destined to influence the future course of medicine. What the Sumerians had discovered was a precursor to the medicine known today as aspirin.
Video examples
Siddharthan Chandran:...
the line's gone up. That suggests that the intervention has been protective. I don't think myself that what's happened is that those stem cells have made new myelin or new nerves. What I think they've done is they've promoted the endogenous stem cells, or precursor cells,
Video examples
How do you explain...
some element of raw, subjective feeling, some primitive precursor to consciousness. This may sound a bit kooky to you. I mean, why would anyone think such a crazy thing? Some motivation comes from the first crazy idea, that consciousness is fundamental.
Video examples
Can you solve the dark...
and type in the coordinates of your final destination. A 15-parsec jump leaves you running on fumes, but ready to dock with the precursor space station. Time to put this alien tech to work and make life better for everyone in the galaxy.
Video examples
The life cycle of a...
Deeper in the crust, the neutron superfluid forms different phases that physicists call “nuclear pasta,” as it’s squeezed from lasagna to spaghetti-like shapes. The massive precursors to neutron stars often spin. When they collapse,
Video examples
Care About the Ocean?...
are the precursors of all plastic products single-use and disposable plastic products make up a large portion of marine debris one of the big issues with plastics is that it's creating hazard for our animals and Wildlife and
Video examples
Upgrading management...
we're going to hear about some of humanity's most important and complex issues and whether your issue is climate change world hunger education or anything else I'm going to propose that a precursor to effectively addressing
Video examples
How High Can Tigers Live...
sniffs we're watching possibly the precursor to tigers meeting and mating there's a female up here letting a male know that she's around they've probably met and mated by now
Video examples
How I climbed a...
Basically, what if I got up there and it was too scary? What if I was too tired? What if I couldn't quite make the kick? I had to consider every possibility while I was safely on the ground, so that when the time came and I was actually making the moves without a rope, there was no room for doubt to creep in. Doubt is the precursor to fear, and I knew that I couldn't experience my perfect moment if I was afraid.
Video examples
SpaceX's Supersized...
Is there life on Mars? But we also have to do due diligence to make sure that that landing site is safe for the humans to come and live and work. So once we get all that robotic precursor work done, then the humans can arrive. And this is when we start building up a base and moving towards a civilization on Mars.
Video examples
How aspirin was...
If they scraped the bark off a particular kind of tree and ate it, their pain disappeared. Little did they know that why they'd found was destined to influence the future course of medicine. What the Sumerians had discovered was a precursor to the medicine known today as aspirin.
Video examples
Siddharthan Chandran:...
the line's gone up. That suggests that the intervention has been protective. I don't think myself that what's happened is that those stem cells have made new myelin or new nerves. What I think they've done is they've promoted the endogenous stem cells, or precursor cells,
Video examples
How do you explain...
some element of raw, subjective feeling, some primitive precursor to consciousness. This may sound a bit kooky to you. I mean, why would anyone think such a crazy thing? Some motivation comes from the first crazy idea, that consciousness is fundamental.
Video examples
Can you solve the dark...
and type in the coordinates of your final destination. A 15-parsec jump leaves you running on fumes, but ready to dock with the precursor space station. Time to put this alien tech to work and make life better for everyone in the galaxy.
Video examples
The life cycle of a...
Deeper in the crust, the neutron superfluid forms different phases that physicists call “nuclear pasta,” as it’s squeezed from lasagna to spaghetti-like shapes. The massive precursors to neutron stars often spin. When they collapse,
Video examples
Care About the Ocean?...
are the precursors of all plastic products single-use and disposable plastic products make up a large portion of marine debris one of the big issues with plastics is that it's creating hazard for our animals and Wildlife and
Video examples
Upgrading management...
we're going to hear about some of humanity's most important and complex issues and whether your issue is climate change world hunger education or anything else I'm going to propose that a precursor to effectively addressing
Video examples
How High Can Tigers Live...
sniffs we're watching possibly the precursor to tigers meeting and mating there's a female up here letting a male know that she's around they've probably met and mated by now
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Deeyah Khan
Norwegian Director
A hedonistic lifestyle contrary to all the rules and expectations of Islam is not an unusual precursor to radicalisation: in fact, some young radicals see joining in the jihad as a way of achieving redemption for past sins.
Quote examples
Greg Walden
American Politician
We are taking steps to fight the production of meth on our own soil through limiting access to precursor ingredients, supporting educational efforts and providing necessary resources to law enforcement.
Quote examples
John M. Ford
American Writer
At one point I intended to write precursor and sequel novels, about the establishment of the Web and its next evolution, but I am very unlikely to now; they would take place in a different universe.
Quote examples
Eckhart Tolle
German Speaker
I believe that Jesus realized his oneness with God and he showed, what he attempted to do was show the way to all of us, how to realize our own onenes with God also, so he's a precursor.
Quote examples
Jorge Luis Borges
Argentinian Poet
The fact is that all writers create their precursors. Their work modifies our conception of the past, just as it is bound to modify the future.
Quote examples
Norman Lloyd
American Actor
I loved 'Modern Family!' It was sort of the precursor to 'Trainwreck,' to that character. But I loved it. I had a great time doing it.
Quote examples
Baldwin Spencer
Statesman
Two hundred years ago, our precursors in Haiti struck a blow for freedom, which was heard around the world, and across centuries.
Quote examples
Daniel Lubetzky
Mexican Businessman
I cannot think of any venture I have initiated where an earlier failure wasn't an important precursor to an eventual success.
Quote examples
Joseph Brodsky
American Poet
Unlike life, a work of art never gets taken for granted: it is always viewed against its precursors and predecessors.
Quote examples
Mikhail Gorbachev
Statesman
What about Jesus Christ? I say that he was a precursor of idealists; a precursor of socialists.
Quote examples
Deeyah Khan
Norwegian Director
A hedonistic lifestyle contrary to all the rules and expectations of Islam is not an unusual precursor to radicalisation: in fact, some young radicals see joining in the jihad as a way of achieving redemption for past sins.
Quote examples
Greg Walden
American Politician
We are taking steps to fight the production of meth on our own soil through limiting access to precursor ingredients, supporting educational efforts and providing necessary resources to law enforcement.
Quote examples
John M. Ford
American Writer
At one point I intended to write precursor and sequel novels, about the establishment of the Web and its next evolution, but I am very unlikely to now; they would take place in a different universe.
Quote examples
Eckhart Tolle
German Speaker
I believe that Jesus realized his oneness with God and he showed, what he attempted to do was show the way to all of us, how to realize our own onenes with God also, so he's a precursor.
Quote examples
Jorge Luis Borges
Argentinian Poet
The fact is that all writers create their precursors. Their work modifies our conception of the past, just as it is bound to modify the future.
Quote examples
Norman Lloyd
American Actor
I loved 'Modern Family!' It was sort of the precursor to 'Trainwreck,' to that character. But I loved it. I had a great time doing it.
Quote examples
Baldwin Spencer
Statesman
Two hundred years ago, our precursors in Haiti struck a blow for freedom, which was heard around the world, and across centuries.
Quote examples
Daniel Lubetzky
Mexican Businessman
I cannot think of any venture I have initiated where an earlier failure wasn't an important precursor to an eventual success.
Quote examples
Joseph Brodsky
American Poet
Unlike life, a work of art never gets taken for granted: it is always viewed against its precursors and predecessors.
Quote examples
Mikhail Gorbachev
Statesman
What about Jesus Christ? I say that he was a precursor of idealists; a precursor of socialists.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension