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to annunciate

to annunciate

9.9
To show that something will happen soon
  • verb
  • /əˈnʌnʃiˌeɪt/
  • Literature
translation icon : presagiar
  • The darkening clouds annunciated the coming storm.

Examples

  • The sudden drop in temperature annunciates the arrival of winter.

  • The change in tone annunciated the beginning of a new era.

  • In her novel, subtle hints annunciate the tragic ending.

  • The dark clouds annunciate a storm.

  • In her novel, subtle hints annunciate the tragic ending.

  • The sudden drop in temperature annunciates the arrival of winter.

  • The darkening skies annunciate a fierce storm ahead.

Synonyms

to foretell
vsto annunciate
41 7.0

To say what will happen in the future

is more about signs or hints rather than direct prediction
to announce
vsto annunciate
38 3.9

To show that something will happen soon, often by a sign you notice

is about indicating or foreshadowing rather than public declaration
to herald
vsto annunciate
37 5.5

To announce that something important is happening or will happen

focuses on indicating future events without praise or celebration
to prophesy
vsto annunciate
28 7.4

To say what will happen in the future, often claiming it comes from a god

is neutral indication, not claiming divine revelation
to foreshadow
vsto annunciate
16 6.2

To give a small sign that something will happen in the future

is a more neutral sign rather than an emphatic warning
to portend
vsto annunciate
  • Formal
13 8.4

To show that something, often bad, will probably happen

is neutral foreshadowing, not necessarily warning of disaster
to anticipate
vsto annunciate
7 5.8

To happen earlier and show what will come later

is a general signal rather than the earlier occurrence itself
to presage
vsto annunciate
  • Literature
5 8.8

To show that something bad will happen

indicates future events more generally rather than stating a firm omen
to augur
vsto annunciate
4 8.6

To be a sign that something will happen

is a simple indication rather than a method of omen reading
to prefigure
vsto annunciate
  • Literature
1 8.0

To be a sign that something will happen later

is broader and focuses on simple indication rather than representation
to previse
vsto annunciate
  • Archaic
9.9

To know something before it happens

is a general indication rather than clear foresight
to auspicate
vsto annunciate
  • Archaic
9.9

To say what will happen by reading signs

uses general foreshadowing rather than ritual omen interpretation
to forebode
vsto annunciate
8.4

To seem to show that something bad will happen

is a general indication, not specifically focused on bad outcomes
to foreshow
vsto annunciate
  • Archaic
9.9

Predict an event from a sign or dream

is ordinary indication without invoking divine prediction
to vaticinate
vsto annunciate
  • Archaic
9.9

To say what will happen in the future because someone has spiritual power

indicates or foreshadows without asserting supernatural authority

Antonyms

1.0

To keep something so others cannot see or understand it

86 7.0

Make something hard to see or understand

How Clear

to predict
812 3.0
to portend
  • Formal
13 8.4
to annunciate
  • Literature
9.9
to foreshadow
16 6.2
to suggest
1.6
to hint
136 2.0
to imply
367 3.5

Surface Forms

annunciate infinitive
annunciated past participle
annunciating present participle
annunciates third person singular

Morphology

annunciate = announce (opaque) = annunci + ate

Although formed from the same combining form and verb-forming suffix, the sense 'to indicate or foreshadow' departs from the straightforward sense 'to announce' and is not predictable from the base.

Etymology

The word annunciate also comes from the Latin annuntiare, meaning 'to report', and long ago it could be used to tell news about the future. So, to annunciate can mean to show or warn that something will happen.