foreshadow

verb

fore·​shad·​ow fȯr-ˈsha-(ˌ)dō How to pronounce foreshadow (audio)
foreshadowed; foreshadowing; foreshadows
Synonyms of foreshadownext

transitive verb

: to represent, indicate, or typify beforehand : prefigure
The hero's predicament is foreshadowed in the first chapter.
foreshadower noun

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
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Then came the even hotter hot mess of the Producer Price Index, which tracks wholesale prices that businesses pay one another and tends to foreshadow changes to consumer prices. Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 14 May 2026 This act of violence, in hindsight, foreshadowed what was to come. Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026 In addition to these monochrome sequences, the main action is intercut with scenes of AJ that foreshadow a solitary interlude for a committed surfer and artist. Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026 The fire in his eyes would rage suddenly, with only a few embers of Mature Vic foreshadowing Angry Vic’s arrival. Jared Weiss, New York Times, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for foreshadow

Word History

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of foreshadow was in 1577

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Cite this Entry

“Foreshadow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foreshadow. Accessed 19 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

foreshadow

verb
fore·​shad·​ow -ˈshad-ō How to pronounce foreshadow (audio)
: to give a hint or suggestion of beforehand
foreshadower noun

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