1
as in precursor
one that announces or indicates the later arrival of another
the return of the swallows is traditionally regarded as a forerunner of spring
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in ancestor
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed
enjoyed the demonstration of the simple hand loom that was the forerunner of today's computer-controlled looms
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of forerunner
Beretta traces its history to 1526, when Bartolomeo Beretta (d. 1565), a rifle barrel maker in the small northern Italian town of Gardone, sold 185 arquebus barrels—a handheld long gun and a forerunner to the modern rifle—to the Republic of Venice.
—
Giacomo Tognini, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
The current tax extension bill could add substantially more to the deficit than its forerunner.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025
Although Oberon did not win, decades later she would be acknowledged as a forerunner among South Asian actors.
—Kendra Nordin Beato, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Mar. 2025
Colossal plans to recreate these creatures by editing the genome of the extinct animal’s closest living relative to make a hybrid animal that would be visually indistinguishable from its extinct forerunner.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for forerunner
Giacomo Tognini, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
The current tax extension bill could add substantially more to the deficit than its forerunner.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025
Although Oberon did not win, decades later she would be acknowledged as a forerunner among South Asian actors.
—Kendra Nordin Beato, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Mar. 2025
Colossal plans to recreate these creatures by editing the genome of the extinct animal’s closest living relative to make a hybrid animal that would be visually indistinguishable from its extinct forerunner.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for forerunner
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forerunner
Noun
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Passionate about utopian socialism and architecture, Gaudí’s forms and shapes were totally fresh, otherworldly and are sometimes referred to as a precursor of the Surrealist movement, of which Salvator Dalí was a key proponent.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
8 May 2025
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Key Ingredients: Pre-retinol (retinol precursor), sunflower oil, wintergreen extract, hibiscus flower extract, christophine extract, water lily extract Best For: Rejuvenating tired, aging skin by brightening and evening out skin tone for a smoother, more radiant complexion.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
6 May 2025
Noun
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Porter County Board of Commissioners President Jim Biggs noted his ancestors were among the first white settlers in the county in 1835, at a settlement a few hundred feet from the site.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
18 May 2025
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Moringa oleifera is native to Indian subcontinent, particularly the Himalayan foothills, while another species, Moringa stenopetala, grows in the Horn of Africa: southern Ethiopia, northern Kenya, and even Somalia, where Elba’s ancestors are from.—
India Espy-Jones,
Essence,
15 May 2025
Noun
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So their arrival in the world of the New Avengers may be a harbinger of scary things to come.—
Eliana Dockterman,
Time,
2 May 2025
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Was Clase’s poor showing against the New York Yankees in last season’s playoffs a harbinger of pending problems?—
Bernie Pleskoff,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
Noun
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All those fancy market reports can’t compete with actually watching someone struggle with your prototype, seeing their face scrunch up in confusion.—
Goran Paun,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
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Under Armour worked with young athletes in Baltimore city schools to test the prototypes of the new backpack.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
7 May 2025
Noun
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Like the Marvel comics, Shalla-Bal is the herald of Galactus, a planet-devouring behemoth who is voiced by Ralph Ineson in the movie.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2025
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In the original comics, the Silver Surfer was Norrin Radd, a male astronomer from the planet Zenn-La who became the herald of Galactus.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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So Like most Taurus signs, Daphne is bullheaded and controlling regarding her three daughters — especially Milly.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
11 May 2025
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Allowing imperfection to show—rather than keeping up appearances—is both a sign of intimacy and a precondition for it.—
Rhaina Cohen,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2025
Noun
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Each finger sported its own unique, cherubic nail art, with plump baby angels fluttering across her nails.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
12 May 2025
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The report shows that pre-seed investors, both angels and VCs, are demanding more than a compelling narrative.—
Carrie Rubinstein,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Forerunner.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forerunner. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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