\def\prepend#1#2{% #1=string #2=macro containing a string \def\tempstring{#1}% \expandafter\expandafter\expandafter \def\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter #2\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter {\expandafter\tempstring#2}% } \def\mystring{world!} \prepend{Hello }\mystring Result : \mystring \bye