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forewarning

forewarning

3 5.6
A sign or notice that something bad will happen
  • noun
  • /fɔrˈwɔrnɪŋ/
translation icon : advertencia
  • By the time Signora Barbaro did come by -- with a forewarning call -- they had convinced me of her importance.

And then also, I think that it is a a bit of a forewarning for his temper being tested with our protagonist is what I'm going to assume.

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Examples

  • It was not a mission to be offered without complete forewarning.

  • There was no forewarning, and we believe we did nothing to cause them to mistrust us.

  • It's a forewarning to back off.

  • I might have felt better about this if I had any forewarning of the change.

    Blog text (24)
  • I did have a bit of forewarning that things on here might get a bit out of hand, but everyone here has been just very polite.

  • Keep this precautionary forewarning in mind, and you will still have those caps in mint condition.

    Blog text (4)
  • Having once jailed Hal, the jurist rightly dreads forewarnings of the new king's grudge and the need to appease Falstaff.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Having prior forewarning about the storm allowed us to prepare adequately.

  • The teacher gave us a forewarning of the upcoming exam so we could study.

  • Many residents were grateful for the forewarning regarding the evacuation order due to the wildfire.

Synonyms

warning
vsforewarning
1.0

A statement or sign that tells people about danger before it happens

is an advance caution that highlights feared future events or harms
alert
vsforewarning
297 2.8

A warning that something dangerous or important may happen

is an advance caution about future danger rather than a call for immediate attention
omen
vsforewarning
91 4.9

A sign or event that people think shows what will happen next

is an advance caution used to advise against future undesirable outcomes rather than predict them
heads-up
vsforewarning
  • Informal
60 4.1

A quick warning that something will happen

is a general advance caution, often for undesirable future events
warning sign
vsforewarning
54 1.6

Something that shows there may be danger or a problem

is an advance caution that notifies of future undesirable outcomes, not only signs
portent
vsforewarning
  • Formal
10 8.7

A sign that something important, often bad, will happen

is an advance caution for future undesirable events but not limited to major calamities
danger signal
vsforewarning
1 3.7

A sign that something dangerous may happen

focuses on advance caution about future harm rather than only indicating risk
presage
vsforewarning
  • Literature
1 8.7

A sign or feeling that something bad will happen

is an advance caution focused on avoiding undesirable events rather than predicting them
warning bell
vsforewarning
1 3.5

A sign that tells people about a possible problem

is an advance caution about future risks rather than only a local signal
prewarning
vsforewarning
4.4

An advance notice that tells people about a possible danger

focuses on future events and cautions especially about undesirable outcomes
prenotification
vsforewarning
7.0

A notice given before an event or change

emphasizes advance caution about future events, especially undesirable ones
preindication
vsforewarning
9.9

A sign that something important will happen soon

is an advance caution that points ahead to future undesirable events
prefiguration
vsforewarning
9.9

An event or example that shows what will happen later

serves as an advance caution about possible undesirable events rather than neutral foreshadowing

Antonyms

738 1.0

An event that happens suddenly and is not expected

How Explicit

alarm
842 1.0
warning
1.0
forewarning
3 5.6
notice
126 1.0
to hint
136 2.0

Surface Forms

forewarning singular
forewarnings plural

Morphology

forewarning = forewarn (transparent) = fore + warn + ing

Formed from the verb 'forewarn' with the nominalizing '-ing', denoting an advance warning; the structure and meaning are straightforward.

Etymology

Forewarning comes from the prefix fore- meaning 'before' and the word warning, so it is a warning given 'before' something happens. So a forewarning is an advance notice or caution about a future event, often about something bad.