Forebears: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'forebears' when talking about people in your family who lived a long time ago. It often suggests a sense of heritage and respect for the family lineage.

• My forebears settled in this town over two centuries ago.
• He takes pride in the achievements of his forebears.

'Ancestors' is used when referring to family members from previous generations, especially when discussing genealogy, heritage, or history.

• She is researching her ancestors to learn more about her family's history.
• Our ancestors lived very different lives compared to us.

'Precursors' is used in a similar way to 'forerunners,' but it can also apply to events, technologies, or ideas that come before and pave the way for later developments.

• The telegraph was a precursor to the modern communication systems.
• Certain economic policies were precursors to the financial instability we see today.

'Forerunners' is used to describe people or things that came before others and set the stage for what follows. It often implies innovation or pioneering in a particular field.

• The early scientists were the forerunners of modern physics.
• These ancient writings were the forerunners of contemporary literature.