precursor
A precursor is something that happens or appears before something else. It can help us understand what's going to come next.
When we talk about precursors, we often think of them as events or signs that warn us about something big that's going to happen. For example, a warning sign on the road might be a precursor to an accident or a traffic jam ahead. If there have been several earthquakes in a certain area before, they can be seen as precursors to a bigger earthquake waiting to happen.
As a noun, "precursor" is used most often. But if you're talking about someone who comes before others, like a person who breaks new ground or creates something original, then the word might be used as an adjective: "the precursor to rock music was blues and jazz."
How common is "precursor"?
It appears most frequently in academic texts and less often in other writings.
noun
That which precurses: a forerunner, predecessor, or indicator of approaching events.
Real examples of "precursor" in context
