prototypes

noun

plural of prototype
1
as in examples
one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like a literary character who is regarded as the prototype of the fanatical and intolerant pursuer of justice

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2
as in forerunners
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed the Greek epic that is the prototype of the hero myth

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in originals
something from which copies are made the manufacturer exhaustively tested the prototype of the vehicle before approving production

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of prototypes Although current prototypes serve as early feasibility models, researchers are actively scaling the system’s cooling output by connecting multiple alloy films in parallel. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026 Summary Climate entrepreneurs urgently need capital to scale projects beyond initial prototypes, with a survey showing 70% require equity but face significant financing hurdles. — Rob Day, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 More than 100,000 Flock cameras have been installed around the country since 2017, when the company first started rolling out prototypes. — Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Based on their discovery, Schumm and his colleagues have already built first early prototypes of new clocks, and have patented a route to building one that fits on a small chip. — Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026 The team’s engineers have already used 3D printing to help build robot prototypes that are being tested by certain customers. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 20 Aug. 2026 Because the landing was so gentle, Ship 40 was able to slowly tip over and float in the ocean without exploding or sinking, as prior prototypes have done. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026 Scaling up from small prototypes to much larger systems is one of the biggest challenges facing all these approaches. — Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026 The rather modest funding goal has already been surpassed, and the campaign page does show prototypes in action as well as manufacturing photos. — New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prototypes
  1. examples
  2. forerunners
  3. originals
  4. samples
  5. precursors
  6. sources
  7. specimens
  8. ancestors
Noun
  • Silvester’s concept became the Falcon Study, a new interpretation of the original developed by his San Diego start-up Q7 Yacht Designs, with naval architecture by Dutch firm Dykstra, known for its work on the series of nascent J-Class examples.
    — Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 30 Aug. 2026
  • There are already examples in other sports of athletes moving between professional and college systems without producing the same alarm.
    — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of examples
Noun
  • Margaret and Alice are the forerunners of Lucy and Ethel, and Shakespeare’s comedy, written expressly to entertain, gives us a sense of what an Elizabethan-era situation comedy might look like.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
  • One of the forerunners today in Madeira and the Azores is António Maçanita from Azores Wine Company.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of forerunners
Noun
  • The new book, written by Annette Bay Pimentel and illustrated by Faith Pray, pays homage to the originals by echoing Winnie's original voice and Shepard's artistic style.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Upcoming originals for 2027 include La Oficina Season 2, Florence Cassez, Tremembé Season 2, Marília, Menem Season 2, Te Odio, Te Amo, Rojo Corazón, Catedrales, and Valentina.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of originals
Noun
  • Historically, scientists had to manually test hundreds of viral samples to determine the correct phage that could target the bacteria in mind.
    — Dr. Sai Balasubramanian, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Anil Thapa, a police inspector coordinating the handling of the bodies, said another 50 bodies were having DNA samples taken ahead of their likely burial Sunday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of samples
Noun
  • The ideology of Third Worldism and the New Agey, anything-goes-style progressivism of the West Coast that Naipaul so keenly lacerates were necessary precursors to the mass death in Guyana.
    — James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Jack Kilby, the inventor of the integrated circuit, or microchip, and the handheld calculator—early precursors of AI.
    — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of precursors
Noun
  • Renewable energy credits serve as proof that a company uses electricity from clean energy sources like solar farms, according to the Retail Energy Supply Association.
    — Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Other dark leafy greens, such as Swiss chard and collard greens, are good sources, too.
    — Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of sources
Noun
  • Eventually, one junior scientist had the courage to analyze the specimens.
    — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Prior to the 1830s, the plant specimens curated at private herbariums were few in number.
    — Candace Barone, Florida Times-Union, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of specimens
Noun
  • Essay Get the Lead Out Alex Manley Our ancestors were born to die by predators.
    — Naomi Skwarna, hazlitt.net, 25 Aug. 2026
  • For the last decade, genealogical consultant Grant Din has helped Asian Americans find information about their ancestors, many of whom passed through San Francisco’s Angel Island Immigration Station in the 1900s.
    — Stephanie Lam, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of ancestors

Browse Nearby Words

prototype
prototypes
protract
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Cite this Entry

“Prototypes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prototypes. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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