prequel

noun

pre·​quel ˈprē-kwəl How to pronounce prequel (audio)
: a work (such as a novel or a play) whose story precedes that of an earlier work
… the real payoff will be for the next Star Wars, an expected prequel to the previous three movies.—Laurence Hooper

Examples of prequel in a Sentence

His next film will be a prequel to last year's hit movie.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Working titled Jaq, the show will shoot next year and is part of a wider expansion of the Top Boy universe, with Barry Keoghan returning as Irish mobster Jonny McGee in prequel Jonny Boy. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026 In 2017, Hoffman reentered her witchy world with The Rules of Magic—a prequel about Sally (Bullock) and Gillian’s (Kidman) eccentric aunts, Frances (played by Stockard Channing) and Jet (Dianne Wiest). — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 2 Sep. 2026 This is the rare prequel that deepens and complicates the world of the original — and the rare lower-budget sequel that manages to look and sound great years later. — Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026 The films serve as prequels to the events of the original series. — L. Sue Baugh, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prequel

Word History

Etymology

pre- + -quel (as in sequel)

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prequel was in 1922

Rhymes for prequel

See All Rhymes for prequel

Browse Nearby Words

prequalify
prequel
prerace
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prequel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prequel. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on prequel

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about prequel

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