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.
Meanwhile, Kane’s other horror prequel series Crystal Lake is now available to stream on Peacock, telling the origin story of Friday the 13th killer Jason Voorhees and mother Pam (Linda Cardellini). — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026 Brown, who also wrote a Rising comic book prequel story published by Dynamite Entertainment, will executive produce. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026 The opinion here is that the original is the greatest movie ever and the sequel – which is also partly a prequel – is somewhere in the top 10, maybe the top five. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026 For years, fans have approached the concept of a TV prequel with a blend of trepidation and excitement. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Oct. 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

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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 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on prequel

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about prequel

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