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
  • Namely, a forgiving elastic waistband, a breezy, lightweight feel, and pockets that are actually deep enough to hold your essentials.
    — Jill Layton, PEOPLE, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Iconic yachting brand Riva was the inspiration behind the redesign, according to Christie, seen in the use of dark wood, pale leather and marble that gives the lounge a distinctly Italian feel.
    — Dea Jusufi, Forbes.com, 29 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
  • In April, for example, the head of the International Energy Agency predicted that flights may soon need to be grounded in Europe due to jet fuel shortages.
    — Katie Silver, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Processor defenses leave a tiny opening Modern processors improve performance by predicting which path a program is likely to follow and beginning the work before the correct path is confirmed.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 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
  • As families wait for news about their relatives, damaged roads, power outages and fears of further flooding have hampered rescue efforts.
    — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The announcement is spurring fears of a fresh wave of Canadian travelers steering clear of the US.
    — Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of fear
Noun
  • Meanwhile, Iran and Oman were discussing a joint temporary shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz and mind clearing mission, a precursor to a permanent arrangement to administer the waterway.
    — Justina Lee, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
  • This can be a precursor to doing heel-to-toe walking and can build confidence in someone’s ability to stay upright.
    — Connie Etermadi, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of precursor
Noun
  • Solar attracted the most investment among renewable energy subsectors during the first six months of the year as countries rush to build capacity as worries grow that global wars will continue squeezing energy supplies.
    — Eugenia Perozo, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Research shows, however, that the public is always a little bit concerned about corruption, and that these worries often do not correspond with particular actions by politicians.
    — Robert Boatright, The Conversation, 27 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 31 Aug. 2026.

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