Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
precursor
noun
/prɪˈkɜːrsər/

Definition
A precursor is something that comes before another thing and often indicates or leads to its development.

Examples
- The invention of the telephone was a precursor to modern communication systems.
- Dark clouds can be a precursor to an approaching storm.
- His early works were seen as a precursor to the more famous pieces that followed.

Meaning
In a general sense, a precursor can refer to an event, situation, or substance that precedes and contributes to the existence or development of something else.

Synonyms
- forerunner
- predecessor
- harbinger
- indicator