Preface
noun
An introduction to a book, explaining the book's purpose or background.
The author wrote a preface for his book, providing personal insights into the story within.
Often appears as...
- a preface to
- write a preface
Usage tips
Academic
verb
To introduce something, especially a speech or piece of writing.
She prefaced her speech with a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.
Often appears as...
- preface with
- preface by saying
noun
An introduction to a book, explaining the book's purpose or background.
The author wrote a preface for his book, providing personal insights into the story within.
Often appears as...
- a preface to
- write a preface
Usage tips
Academic
verb
To introduce something, especially a speech or piece of writing.
She prefaced her speech with a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.
Often appears as...
- preface with
- preface by saying
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Not Always Needed
In modern books, a preface is optional and reflects the author's personal touch.
His novel had no preface, diving straight into the story.
Pro Tip 2/3Historical Insight
Prefaces often contain historical context, helping readers understand the time period of the book.
The preface provided context about the Victorian era.
Pro Tip 3/3Author's Thoughts
The preface may express the author's journey or motivations in creating the book.
The preface revealed her struggles during the book's writing process.
Pro Tip 1/3Not Always Needed
In modern books, a preface is optional and reflects the author's personal touch.
His novel had no preface, diving straight into the story.
Pro Tip 2/3Historical Insight
Prefaces often contain historical context, helping readers understand the time period of the book.
The preface provided context about the Victorian era.
Pro Tip 3/3Author's Thoughts
The preface may express the author's journey or motivations in creating the book.
The preface revealed her struggles during the book's writing process.
Pro Tip 1/3Not Always Needed
In modern books, a preface is optional and reflects the author's personal touch.
His novel had no preface, diving straight into the story.
Pro Tip 2/3Historical Insight
Prefaces often contain historical context, helping readers understand the time period of the book.
The preface provided context about the Victorian era.
Pro Tip 3/3Author's Thoughts
The preface may express the author's journey or motivations in creating the book.
The preface revealed her struggles during the book's writing process.
Never forget "Preface"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
What's the definition of...
who prefaced his essay on laughter by saying he wouldn't define "the comic" because it's a living thing. He argued laughter has a social function to destroy mechanical inelasticity in people's attitudes and behavior. Someone doing the same thing over and over, or building up a false image of themself and the world,
Video examples
Coral Reef Ocean...
on that's great um what can young people do to help um protect our oceans great question i love that question and i'm just hearing a bunch of new solutions and ideas every day and i want to preface this by saying that
Video examples
How I made friends with...
But what I do want to talk about is a personal challenge to reality that I take personally, and I want to preface it by saying that I absolutely love science.
Video examples
What's the definition of...
who prefaced his essay on laughter by saying he wouldn't define "the comic" because it's a living thing. He argued laughter has a social function to destroy mechanical inelasticity in people's attitudes and behavior. Someone doing the same thing over and over, or building up a false image of themself and the world,
Video examples
Coral Reef Ocean...
on that's great um what can young people do to help um protect our oceans great question i love that question and i'm just hearing a bunch of new solutions and ideas every day and i want to preface this by saying that
Video examples
How I made friends with...
But what I do want to talk about is a personal challenge to reality that I take personally, and I want to preface it by saying that I absolutely love science.
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Patti Smith
American Musician
What I say should always be prefaced with this: I'm not really politically articulate. I just try to be like Thomas Paine: what is common sense? So when I say these things to you, I am speaking from a humanist point of view. I just look around and see what's wrong.
Quote examples
Nestor Carbonell
American Actor
I remember, working on 'Lost,' I learned very quickly the way that I had to approach the material or even ask the director questions. It was always prefaced with, 'Would it be wrong for me to assume?' Because I didn't know where my character on 'Lost' was going.
Quote examples
Richard LaGravenese
American Writer
The real Liberace - and I'll preface this by saying that I didn't know the real one - was a man who didn't come from much. His father left him and his family for another woman. His father was a musician, which I thought was pretty interesting.
Quote examples
James Loeb
American Businessman
I therefore set to work, and after two and a half years of not inconsiderable labour I now have the privilege and the satisfaction of accompanying the early volumes of the series with this preface.
Quote examples
Sloane Crosley
American Writer
I think the rule of thumb should be this: if you preface a sentence about a friend with the phrase, 'I love X, but... ' more than once in any conversation, you should stop hanging out with them.
Quote examples
Barbara Kruger
American Artist
I think that every so-called history book and film biography should be prefaced by the statement that what follows is the author's rendition of events and circumstances.
Quote examples
John Hodgman
American Comedian
My career as a magazine writer was largely prefaced on the idea of curiosity, to go on adventures and weasel my way into the lives of people that I admire.
Quote examples
James Rollins
American Author
Generally, if you preface an interview request with, 'I'm an author writing a book,' for some reason, that seems to open a lot of doors.
Quote examples
Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel
German Poet
Plato's philosophy is a dignified preface to future religion.
Quote examples
James Agate
British Critic
Shaw's plays are the price we pay for Shaw's prefaces.
Quote examples
Patti Smith
American Musician
What I say should always be prefaced with this: I'm not really politically articulate. I just try to be like Thomas Paine: what is common sense? So when I say these things to you, I am speaking from a humanist point of view. I just look around and see what's wrong.
Quote examples
Nestor Carbonell
American Actor
I remember, working on 'Lost,' I learned very quickly the way that I had to approach the material or even ask the director questions. It was always prefaced with, 'Would it be wrong for me to assume?' Because I didn't know where my character on 'Lost' was going.
Quote examples
Richard LaGravenese
American Writer
The real Liberace - and I'll preface this by saying that I didn't know the real one - was a man who didn't come from much. His father left him and his family for another woman. His father was a musician, which I thought was pretty interesting.
Quote examples
James Loeb
American Businessman
I therefore set to work, and after two and a half years of not inconsiderable labour I now have the privilege and the satisfaction of accompanying the early volumes of the series with this preface.
Quote examples
Sloane Crosley
American Writer
I think the rule of thumb should be this: if you preface a sentence about a friend with the phrase, 'I love X, but... ' more than once in any conversation, you should stop hanging out with them.
Quote examples
Barbara Kruger
American Artist
I think that every so-called history book and film biography should be prefaced by the statement that what follows is the author's rendition of events and circumstances.
Quote examples
John Hodgman
American Comedian
My career as a magazine writer was largely prefaced on the idea of curiosity, to go on adventures and weasel my way into the lives of people that I admire.
Quote examples
James Rollins
American Author
Generally, if you preface an interview request with, 'I'm an author writing a book,' for some reason, that seems to open a lot of doors.
Quote examples
Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel
German Poet
Plato's philosophy is a dignified preface to future religion.
Quote examples
James Agate
British Critic
Shaw's plays are the price we pay for Shaw's prefaces.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension