presage 1 of 2

noun

ˈpre-sij How to pronounce presage (audio)
Definition of presagenext
1
as in feel
a feeling that something bad will happen I had a nagging presage that the results of my medical tests would not be good

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in forerunner
something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event the sight of the first robin is always a welcome presage of spring

Synonyms & Similar Words

presage

2 of 2

verb

ˈpre-sij How to pronounce presage (audio)
as in to predict
to tell of or describe beforehand people used to believe that a comet presaged a major event, such as the death of a king

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of presage
Noun
The company is facing similar litigation in Nevada — and while the injunction is only temporary, and focuses on sports betting, the legal action presages the broader efforts by states to protect the lucrative revenue gambling brings in. — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 22 Jan. 2026 For Swain, the rise of directs presages nothing less than a revolution in the world’s financial markets. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2025
Verb
Frazier’s performance presaged Jalen Brunson’s recent 45-point, Game 5 effort on 14-for-27 shooting, 4-for-7 beyond the three-point stripe, by almost six decades and prompted Bradley to wax eloquent after the Knicks’ latest stunning comeback. — Barry M. Bloom, Forbes.com, 15 June 2026 After hearing these songs, the happier ones at the beginning of the album reveal bits of shadow that Rodrigo has built into them to presage what’s to come — to presage what always comes. — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for presage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for presage
  1. feel
  2. forerunner
  3. predict
  4. premonition
  5. portent
  6. fear
  7. precursor
  8. worry
Noun
  • Deep green walls, mustard accents, and natural wood create the feel of a high-end summer camp for grown-ups.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
  • That’s a period that hasn’t yet been depicted in the franchise, so Levy and his production team had to come up with new sets and designs that were still consistent with the overall feel of Star Wars.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of feel
Noun
  • Margaret and Alice are the forerunners of Lucy and Ethel, and Shakespeare’s comedy, written expressly to entertain, gives us a sense of what an Elizabethan-era situation comedy might look like.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
  • One of the forerunners today in Madeira and the Azores is António Maçanita from Azores Wine Company.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of forerunner
Verb
  • Everyone predicted the scoreline of each of the 10 Premier League matches each gameweek, with points awarded for correct guesses and a league table kept track of who was leading.
    — The Athletic Soccer Experts, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Kelly predicted that payrolls should grow 50,000 to 100,000 per month going forward — but July’s poor report and downward revision for earlier months call that into question.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of predict
Noun
  • In this high silk topper The Big Bambino was on top of the world with no premonition that a serious throat ailment would lead to his death in a few short years.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • But Naipaul reminds us about how ubiquitous premonitions of catastrophe and doom were in the 1970s.
    — James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of premonition
Noun
  • Things are also tough for their friends, Elle (Yasmin Finney) and Tao (William Gao), whose constant bickering seems to be an ominous portent for their on-again-off-again relationship.
    — David Mack, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • The push for the category, which comes after Hot Ones earned Daytime Emmys noms in 2022 and 2023, carries symbolic portent, given the category’s housing of traditional late night; a nomination would truly signal a passing of the torch.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 8 July 2026
Definition of portent
Noun
  • The quake initially triggered fears of a tsunami, and a warning from Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, issuing alerts to stay away from beaches and calls for people to evacuate.
    — Jason Volack, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Jacobita Cortes, a United Methodist pastor in Chicago, said that fear has changed the rhythms of her community.
    — Maria Santana, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of fear
Noun
  • But outside spending groups supporting Marshall and opposing Hamilton have already made major television ad buys this month — a precursor to what’s expected to be an expensive election cycle.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Less wealthy associations within and outside the confederation have relied heavily on FIFA funds via Infantino’s FIFA Forward program, the precursor to FFE, which was introduced by him in 2016.
    — Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of precursor
Noun
  • For some clubs that were running close to the wire under PSR, the shift will ease regulatory worries, as operating costs are now excluded.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Symptoms Symptoms can include sleeplessness, extreme worry about the baby or childbirth, restlessness and a racing heartbeat.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of worry

Browse Nearby Words

prerogatives
presage
presaged
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Cite this Entry

“Presage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presage. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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