# prelude

/ˈpɹeɪˌɫud/ (US) · /pɹˈɛljuːd/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/prelude
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

an action or event that happens before something more important. In music, it is a short piece that introduces a longer work.

For teachers: an introductory performance, action, or event preceding and leading up to a more significant matter. In a musical context, it refers to a movement or piece that serves as an introduction to a larger composition.

## Examples

- The dark clouds were a prelude to the storm.
- The short meeting served as a necessary prelude to the intense negotiations that followed later that afternoon.
- The composer's early piano preludes, while brief, contain the harmonic seeds that would eventually blossom into his more expansive symphonic works.

## Usage notes

- Often paired with the preposition 'to' when describing an introductory event.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.