foreshadowing

noun

fore·​shad·​ow·​ing fȯr-ˈsha-də-wiŋ 

plural foreshadowings

: an indication of what is to come

If the history of the world were a novel, the events so strikingly chronicled in the photographs in this book … would seem a foreshadowing of the recent events …

—Ralph Novak

On this merry Christmas evening, however, no fears or dim foreshadowings of any coming event clouded our hearts or faces.

—Lucy Maud Montgomery

also : the use of such indications (as in a work of literature)

And, further, Rose is a genuine cliff-hanger, or page-turner, full of foreshadowing … and all the tried and tricky methods of creating suspense.

—John Simon

Synonyms

• augury
• auspice
• boding
• foreboding
• omen
• portent
• prefiguring
• presage

Examples of foreshadowing in a Sentence

the hero's strange encounter with a grave digger is often seen as a foreshadowing of his own death

Recent Examples on the Web

Choreographing with Jocelyn’s baggage center stage also allowed McNeely to incorporate some foreshadowing of the overall narrative and symbolism behind her character and her experience as a pop star. —Meredith Woerner, Variety, 8 Aug. 2024

This feels less connected to the vision of the White Walkers and Dany, and more like potential foreshadowing of things to come in the near future. —Nick Romano, EW.com, 5 Aug. 2024

Daemon's vision also included seeing White Walkers marching in the North among other major Thrones moments, as well as important foreshadowing for what's potentially to come in House of the Dragon. —Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 5 Aug. 2024

The team came up short against California, but West won the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player anyway -- a foreshadowing of his 1969 NBA Finals MVP. —Mark Osborne, ABC News, 12 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined above