Forebode: meaning, definitions and examples

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forebode

[fɔrˈboʊd ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

ominous

To forebode means to predict or foreshadow something, especially something negative or harmful. It is often associated with a sense of impending danger or disaster.

Synonyms

foretell, portend, predict, presage.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
forebode	This word is often used when indicating a sense of impending doom or something bad that is about to happen. It tends to have a negative connotation. The dark clouds forebode a storm. Her sudden silence forebode trouble.
predict	It is commonly used to describe the act of stating what you think will happen in the future based on evidence or reasoning. It has a neutral tone. Scientists predict an increase in global temperatures. She can predict the outcome of football matches.
foretell	Use this when indicating the act of predicting or telling about something before it happens, usually in a neutral or more general sense. He could foretell the future. The ancient oracle could foretell events with surprising accuracy.
presage	This word is used to indicate a sign or warning about something that will happen in the future, often something bad or unfortunate. It generally carries a formal tone. The early frost presaged a harsh winter. The strange behavior of the birds presaged an earthquake.
portend	This is used when suggesting that something (often an event) is a sign or warning that something momentous or calamitous is likely to happen. It generally has a serious tone. The comet portends disaster. The sudden stock market fall portends economic trouble.

Examples of usage

The dark clouds forebode a coming storm.
Her eerie silence forebode trouble ahead.
The sudden drop in temperature forebode the arrival of winter.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

intuition

To forebode can also mean to have a strong inner feeling or intuition about something, usually with a sense of apprehension or unease.

Synonyms

omen, premonition, presentiment.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
forebode	This word is often used when implying a sense of warning or something bad that is expected to happen. It has a negative connotation. The dark clouds seemed to forebode a terrible storm
presentiment	This term is similar to 'premonition' but is often used to describe a vague sense of something unfortunate that's about to occur. He couldn't shake the presentiment that he was being watched
premonition	This word describes a strong feeling or intuition about a future event, typically an unpleasant one. It conveys a sense of forewarning. She had a premonition that something terrible was going to happen
omen	Use 'omen' when referring to a sign that indicates something, either good or bad, that will happen in the future. Although it can be positive, it often carries a slightly negative implication. Finding a four-leaf clover is considered a good omen

Examples of usage

She could sense something foreboding in the air.
His foreboding about the future turned out to be true.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Old English 'forbōdian', meaning 'to declare beforehand'.
It is related to the Middle Dutch word 'verboden', indicating a similar sense of warning or prohibition.
The prefix 'fore-' signifies 'before', while 'bode' relates to 'to announce' or 'to declare'.

Literature

In literature, authors often use this word to create suspense and foreshadow potential disasters or conflicts.
William Shakespeare frequently utilized the concept in his plays to build dramatic tension.
Dark, ominous imagery in poetry often forebodes tragic outcomes, reflecting human fears and intuitions about fate.

Psychology

Research in psychology shows that human intuition can often forebode future events based on subtle environmental cues.
People can experience a feeling of dread or anxiety when they unconsciously sense something negative might occur.
Cognitive biases may cause individuals to interpret ambiguous situations as negative, heightening the sense of foreboding.

Pop Culture

The word 'forebode' is often used in movies and books that focus on supernatural themes, such as ghosts predicting dark events.
Many horror films incorporate this concept by showing characters experiencing ominous signs before impending doom.
The use of foreboding music in films effectively enhances the feeling of something bad about to happen.

History

Throughout history, various cultures have believed in omens and signs that forebode future events, often linked to natural phenomena.
In ancient Rome, augurs were priests who interpreted the behavior of birds to forebode success or failure in battles.
The concept of foreboding can be found in many historical texts, where dreams and unusual occurrences were believed to predict significant events.

Translations

Translations of the word "forebode" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pressentir

🇮🇳 अगाह करना

🇩🇪 ahnen

🇮🇩 meramalkan

🇺🇦 передвіщати

🇵🇱 przeczuwać

🇯🇵 予感する (yokan suru)

🇫🇷 présager

🇪🇸 presagiar

🇹🇷 önceden bildirmek

🇰🇷 예감하다 (yaegam hada)

🇸🇦 يتنبأ (yatana'abu)

🇨🇿 předzvěstovat

🇸🇰 predpovedať

🇨🇳 预示 (yùshì)

🇸🇮 napovedovati

🇮🇸 fyrirboða

🇰🇿 болжамдау

🇬🇪 წინასწარმეტყველება (ts'inasts'armet'q'veleba)

🇦🇿 xəbər vermək

🇲🇽 presagiar