forewarn

verb

fore·​warn fȯr-ˈwȯrn How to pronounce forewarn (audio)
forewarned; forewarning; forewarns

transitive verb

: to warn in advance

Examples of forewarn in a Sentence

I should forewarn you before you come to visit that we have a dog.
Recent Examples on the Web Be forewarned: This film is not for anyone whose taste in humor runs only to silky Oscar Wildean epigrams or naturalistic comedies of the ‘Tootsie’ school. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2023 Pilots can then forewarn passengers and crew, encouraging them to take their seat and buckle up before a jolt hits. Katherine Wright, Scientific American, 1 July 2023 Lieu, who is also one of only two Taiwanese members of Congress (the other being Grace Meng), expressed confidence that people can be adequately forewarned to be on the lookout for such fakery. Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 31 July 2023 Users should be forewarned that the free version has limited knowledge of the world and events after 2021 and may occasionally produce harmful instructions or biased content. Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 27 June 2023 Be forewarned: The federal government will tax any amount of loan forgiveness received after Dec. 31, 2025. Jon Healey, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2023 The internet can be spotty and sometimes non-existent Despite how long the internet’s been around, the powers that be still haven’t figured out how to deliver non-stop, strong service through the mountains of Colorado or the deserts in Nevada and elsewhere, so be forewarned. Josh Max, Forbes, 3 May 2023 Be forewarned: The berries can’t be eaten raw, as the plant has lectin and cyanide in it, which can cause intense stomach and lower intestine issues. Deanna Kizis, Sunset Magazine, 5 Apr. 2023 Xbox Game Pass subscribers can stream it on their mobile devices too, but be forewarned: The in-game text is very small on phones, so maybe check your vision insurance first. The Editors, Outside Online, 7 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'forewarn.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of forewarn was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near forewarn

Cite this Entry

“Forewarn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forewarn. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

forewarn

verb
fore·​warn fōr-ˈwȯ(ə)rn How to pronounce forewarn (audio)
fȯr-
: to warn in advance
forewarned of danger

More from Merriam-Webster on forewarn

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