Forerunner: meaning, definitions and examples

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forerunner

 

[ ˈfɔːrʌnər ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in technology

A forerunner is something that comes before another thing and is a sign of how things will develop in the future. It is a precursor or predecessor to something else.

Synonyms

harbinger, precursor, predecessor

Examples of usage

  • The first mobile phone was a forerunner to the smartphones we have today.
  • Early computers were forerunners to the powerful devices we use now.
Context #2 | Noun

in history

A forerunner is a person or thing that precedes the coming or development of someone or something else. It can also refer to a person who goes before and announces the arrival of someone else.

Synonyms

pioneer, precursor, trailblazer

Examples of usage

  • John the Baptist is considered a forerunner to Jesus in the Christian faith.
  • The Wright brothers were forerunners in aviation history.

Translations

Translations of the word "forerunner" in other languages:

🇵🇹 precursor

🇮🇳 अग्रदूत

🇩🇪 Vorreiter

🇮🇩 pelopor

🇺🇦 провісник

🇵🇱 prekursor

🇯🇵 先駆者 (せんくしゃ)

🇫🇷 précurseur

🇪🇸 pionero

🇹🇷 öncü

🇰🇷 선구자 (seonguja)

🇸🇦 رائد

🇨🇿 předchůdce

🇸🇰 predchodca

🇨🇳 先驱 (xiānqū)

🇸🇮 predhodnik

🇮🇸 forveri

🇰🇿 алғашқы

🇬🇪 წინამორბედი

🇦🇿 sələf

🇲🇽 pionero

Etymology

The word 'forerunner' originated in the 16th century, coming from the Middle English 'forerone', which is a combination of 'fore' (before) and 'run'. It has since evolved to represent something that comes before another, whether in terms of technology, history, or development.