precursor

noun

something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone

a person who goes before or announces the coming of another

a substance from which another substance is formed (especially by a metabolic reaction)

Roots

praepre- · Latin · before, in front curro-curs · Latin · run

Synonyms for precursor

forerunnern harbingern predecessorn foreshadowerv catalystn preluden heraldv antecedentn presagerv

Synonyms & related words for precursor

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of precursor — including forerunner, harbinger, predecessor, foreshadower, catalyst, prelude. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to precursor

Explore words related to precursor — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include precursory, precurse, chymotrypsinogen, etiolin, foreshadowed, foreshadowing, zymogen, waymaker. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for precursor

Common synonyms for precursor include forerunner, harbinger, predecessor, foreshadower, catalyst, prelude, herald, antecedent — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does precursor come from?

The word precursor breaks down into 2 roots of Latin origin: pre-, from Latin prae (“before, in front”); and -curs, from Latin curro (“run”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.