premonition

noun pre·mo·ni·tion \ ˌprē-mə-ˈni-shən , ˌpre- \

Updated on: 5 May 2018

Definition of premonition

1 : previous notice or warning : forewarning

2 : anticipation of an event without conscious reason : presentiment

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Examples of premonition in a Sentence

She had a premonition that he would call.
she had a premonition that her cat would somehow get hurt that day

Recent Examples of premonition from the Web

Speaking exclusively to the Independent ahead of the return fixture in the semi finals, at Wanda Metropolitano, Partey revealed how Simeone conducted drills of 10 vs 11 in what some fans will joke was a premonition due to the outcome of the game.

— SI.com, "Atletico Star Reveals How Simeone's Incredible Training Prediction Paid Off Ahead of Arsenal Clash," 2 May 2018
There can be no concept of peace without the reality of rough and warring nations, no sense of the forever without the premonition of death.

— mark swed, latimes.com, "The L.A. Phil's Bernstein and Beethoven peace project," 20 Apr. 2018
The season 10 finale also had the agents trying to stop a global contagion from wiping out the majority of the population; the season eleven premiere revealed that was Scully's shared premonition with her MIA son, William about what was to come.

— marisa roffman, The Hollywood Reporter, "'The X-Files' Finale: Can William Survive His Reunion With Mulder and Scully?," 8 Mar. 2018
The lecture mixed neurological theory and armchair anthropology, and ranged over subjects including premonitions, telepathy, hypnotism, hallucinations, and epileptic and migrainous aura.

— katherine foxhall, Smithsonian, "No, Getting a Hole Drilled in Your Head Was Never a Migraine Cure," 6 Mar. 2018
Or maybe his time in Denver will prove a premonition the Colts should’ve seen miles away.

— zak keefer, Indianapolis Star, "Has expected Colts coach Josh McDaniels learned from his failures in Denver?," 17 Jan. 2018
Luckily, the moment wasn’t a premonition of what’s to come in their relationship—or some huge public fight.

— tess kornfeld, Glamour, "Paris Hilton Just Shut Down Rumors About Why She Zoomed Off Without Her Fiancé," 7 Jan. 2018
Georgia destroyed Alabama, 65-46, on Saturday — in basketball, that is — and many college sports fans see it as a premonition for the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, which is also between the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide.

— michelle r. martinelli, For The Win, "Georgia crushed Alabama in basketball, and fans are taking it as a sign," 6 Jan. 2018
Of course the 75-year-old Argentinian handyman had premonitions.

— julia o'malley, Anchorage Daily News, "To a handyman who tried his best to make good," 19 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'premonition.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of premonition

Middle English premunition, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin premunition-, premunitio, alteration of Late Latin praemonitio, from Latin praemonēre to warn in advance, from prae- + monēre to warn — more at mind

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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