premonition

noun

pre·​mo·​ni·​tion ˌprē-mə-ˈni-shən  ˌpre- 

1

: previous notice or warning : forewarning

2

: anticipation of an event without conscious reason : presentiment

Synonyms

• foreboding
• presage
• presentiment
• prognostication

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 on the Web

There had actually been a premonition of this in the Angel’s Trumpet painting in his show at Zwirner last spring. —Dodie Kazanjian, Vogue, 5 June 2025

Like its fatal forebears, Bloodlines kicks off with an ominous premonition of mass mortality, albeit one with a slight twist. —Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025

The premonitions Japan is no stranger to severe earthquakes. —Chris Lau, CNN Money, 19 May 2025

Luckily, Iris has a premonition of the accident and saves everyone — but that causes unintended consequences, as Death begins to come for her descendants. —Keith Langston, People.com, 18 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for premonition

• abolition
• acquisition
• admonition
• ammunition
• apparition
• apposition
• coalition
• competition
• composition
• definition
• deglutition
• demolition

Kids Definition

premonition

noun

pre·​mo·​ni·​tion ˌprē-mə-ˈnish-ən  ˌprem-ə- 

: a feeling that something is going to happen

a premonition of disaster

premonitory

pri-ˈmän-ə-ˌtōr-ē

-ˌtȯr-

adjective