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
There are two countries on the world stage that stand out as the forerunners in the AI race: the U.S. and China.
—
Ryan Browne, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
The reactor is the forerunner to the Aalo Pod, a 50-megawatt modular power plant designed specifically for data centers.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2025
German missile designers launched their V2 rocket for the first time—the forerunner of the ICBM that would blitz the United Kingdom—and Berlin’s Luftwaffe dominated European skies.
—Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
His band may be forerunners in this respect, but Allen recognizes that the attention is paying off for all of his Alabama contemporaries.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for forerunner
Ryan Browne, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
The reactor is the forerunner to the Aalo Pod, a 50-megawatt modular power plant designed specifically for data centers.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2025
German missile designers launched their V2 rocket for the first time—the forerunner of the ICBM that would blitz the United Kingdom—and Berlin’s Luftwaffe dominated European skies.
—Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
His band may be forerunners in this respect, but Allen recognizes that the attention is paying off for all of his Alabama contemporaries.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for forerunner
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forerunner
Noun
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Once most of the ticker tape had been cleared from the pitch, and the game finally started, all this seemed to have rattled the Netherlands, who played an unusually physical brand of football, perhaps a precursor to their infamous 2010 final display against Spain.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
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With Tagovailoa, however, that off-the-field chemistry has always been a precursor to what happens in between the lines.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Demosponges are soft and squishy filter feeders and their ancestors likely shared similar characteristics.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Where Lil Boosie and Kevin Gates are hometown heroes, two artists who are direct ancestors for YoungBoy’s style, YoungBoy is more notorious, fodder for the gossip shows and the minor podcasts that infiltrate their way onto your timeline.—
Jayson Buford,
Rolling Stone,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The Dash is also a harbinger of death.—
Leanna Renee Hieber,
Big Think,
2 Oct. 2025
-
One harbinger of this is the fact that many of the contestants who star in this season of the show are either cringe, mean, or both.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Shortly thereafter, Dumas turned Birkin’s dreams of an alternative carryall into reality — gifting her with a Birkin bag prototype and putting the silhouette on the market in 1984.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
3 Oct. 2025
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The content banner will create original material for digital platforms with an eye on developing concepts and prototypes for movies, TV shows, live media, podcasts, e-commerce and more.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Marie, Andre, Jordan, and Emma put down the supe uprising, but then psychotic fascist Homelander showed up to condemn them as villains and herald the murderous Cate and Sam as top students and potential recruits for the thoroughly corrupt Seven.—
EW Staff,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Sep. 2025
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But Choi and Dang are no longer liberica’s sole heralds.—
Alex Mayyasi,
Saveur,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The kids associate helicopters with life flights to the local hospital, a sign that someone has been seriously injured, Cornelison said.—
John Wisely,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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Eddie Howe will hope Newcastle’s 4-0 thumping of USG is the first sign of their new-look front line gelling, with Nick Woltemade, Anthony Gordon (two penalties) and Harvey Barnes all on target.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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He will be killed by his brother, the angel Ejllael (Steve Noh), for bowing to a human.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
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Capellini is a long, thin noodle that is thinner than spaghettini (thin spaghetti) and thicker than angel hair.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Forerunner.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forerunner. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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