foreshadow
verb
fore·shad·ow
fȯr-ˈsha-(ˌ)dō 
foreshadowed; foreshadowing; foreshadows
: to represent, indicate, or typify beforehand : prefigure
The hero's predicament is foreshadowed in the first chapter.
Examples of foreshadow in a Sentence
Her early interest in airplanes foreshadowed her later career as a pilot.
The hero's predicament is foreshadowed in the first chapter.
Recent Examples on the Web
The two went public with their romantic relationship in May 2025, foreshadowing a merger of two NFL families.
—
Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
City projections recently presented to the Irvine City Council foreshadowed a $6 million deficit that could double or even triple by 2028.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 8 Apr. 2026
But really, the company’s downsizing had been months in the making, foreshadowed by the $31 million sale of its creative office space in Santa Monica in the fall.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
With almost three years left in his final term, Trump’s absence from CPAC foreshadows his eventual departure as leader of the GOP and the conservative movement, a role typically served by the president or the party’s leading contender for the White House.
—Gromer Jeffers Jr.
political, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for foreshadow
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.
Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
City projections recently presented to the Irvine City Council foreshadowed a $6 million deficit that could double or even triple by 2028.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 8 Apr. 2026
But really, the company’s downsizing had been months in the making, foreshadowed by the $31 million sale of its creative office space in Santa Monica in the fall.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
With almost three years left in his final term, Trump’s absence from CPAC foreshadows his eventual departure as leader of the GOP and the conservative movement, a role typically served by the president or the party’s leading contender for the White House.
—Gromer Jeffers Jr.
political, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for foreshadow
Cite this Entry
“Foreshadow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foreshadow. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
foreshadow
verb
fore·shad·ow
-ˈshad-ō
: to give a hint or suggestion of beforehand
foreshadower
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
