premonition

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

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

But one book publicist did have a premonition a week before the announcement.

— boris kachka, Daily Intelligencer, "What the Departure of the Times’ Michiko Kakutani Means for Books Coverage," 15 Aug. 2017
The room blinked back into focus: shop windows now faded blue-black, a vague premonition passing like a shadow across my chest.

— diana whitney, Longreads, "My Father’s Adventure Was My Terror," 19 June 2017
WASHINGTON — The premonition came in a Winston-Salem conference room, on an otherwise happy election night in 2004, before Richard M. Burr of North Carolina had even declared victory in his bid to join the Senate.

— matt flegenheimer, New York Times, "Richard Burr Leads Russia Inquiry, Whether He Likes It or Not," 13 May 2017
CAMERA OBSCURA Suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, a war photographer begins to see real premonitions of deaths in his pictures.

— ben kenigsberg, New York Times, "Summer Movie Release Schedule 2017," 5 May 2017
Bannon has apparently had premonitions of his own exit.

— tina nguyen, The Hive, "Bannon Reportedly Threatened to Rage-Quit the White House," 6 Apr. 2017
A premonition and a dream Myra Thompson seemed to know something would happen to her.

— meg kinnard, Orange County Register, "Friends, family remember Charleston church slaying victims," 5 Jan. 2017
A premonition and a dream Myra Thompson seemed to know something would happen to her.

— meg kinnard, Orange County Register, "Friends, family remember Charleston church slaying victims," 5 Jan. 2017
My mother, too, has had her share of strange premonitions: accidents foretold, telephones answered before the first ring.

— burkhard bilger, The New Yorker, "Where Germans Make Peace with Their Dead," 12 Sep. 2016

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

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First Known Use: 15th century

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premonition Synonyms

Synonyms

foreboding, presage, presentiment, prognostication

PREMONITION Defined for English Language Learners

premonition

noun

Definition of premonition for English Language Learners

: a feeling or belief that something is going to happen when there is no definite reason to believe it will

PREMONITION Defined for Kids

premonition

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

Definition of premonition for Students

:a feeling that something is going to happen

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See words that rhyme with premonition Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for premonition Spanish Central: Translation of premonition Nglish: Translation of premonition for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of premonition for Arabic speakers

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premonition

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premonition

Definition of premonition for English Language Learners

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premonition

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