Foreshadow: meaning, definitions and examples

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foreshadow

 

[ ˈfɔːrˌʃædoʊ ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

literature

To show or indicate beforehand; prefigure: The author's use of dark imagery foreshadowed the tragic ending of the novel.

Synonyms

foretell, portend, predict.

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Word Description / Examples
foreshadow

Often used in literature and storytelling to hint at future events in a subtle way.

  • The dark clouds foreshadowed the coming storm
  • The mysterious music foreshadowed something bad happening
predict

Commonly used in everyday situations where someone is making an educated guess about future events based on current information.

  • The meteorologist predicts rain for tomorrow
  • She predicted that the team would win the championship
foretell

Usually used in contexts involving prophecy or predicting future events with a sense of certainty, especially in historical or mythical settings.

  • The ancient oracle could foretell the future
  • Her dreams seemed to foretell unusual occurrences
portend

Often used in a formal or literary context to indicate that something, usually negative, is likely to happen.

  • The sudden silence portended bad news
  • The strange behavior of the animals portended an earthquake

Examples of usage

  • The storm clouds foreshadowed the approaching bad weather.
  • The mysterious stranger in the opening scene foreshadowed the main character's destiny.
Context #2 | Noun

movie

A warning or indication of a future event: The ominous music in the background served as a foreshadow of the villain's appearance.

Synonyms

hint, omen, sign.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
foreshadow

Typically used in literature or storytelling to indicate an event that will happen later in the narrative.

  • The dark clouds in the first chapter foreshadowed the coming storm
  • The ominous music foreshadows an impending danger in the movie
omen

Often used in a more mystical or superstitious context to signify a future event, typically with a negative or foreboding connotation.

  • Finding a black cat crossing your path is considered an omen of bad luck
  • The sudden drop in temperature was seen as an omen of the harsh winter to come
sign

Can be used in a broad range of situations to indicate evidence or an indication of something that will happen. It is neutral and more versatile in use.

  • The early blossoms are a sign that spring is near
  • The empty streets were a sign that everyone was already at the concert
hint

Used in everyday conversation to subtly suggest something without saying it directly. Can also be used in various contexts, such as clues in a game or when giving indirect advice.

  • She dropped a hint that she wanted a new phone for her birthday
  • The teacher gave a hint to help the students solve the puzzle

Examples of usage

  • The character's flashback scenes acted as a foreshadow of his traumatic past.
  • The subtle hints dropped by the detective were a clever foreshadow of the plot twist.

Translations

Translations of the word "foreshadow" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pressagiar

🇮🇳 पूर्वाभास देना

🇩🇪 vorhersagen

🇮🇩 meramalkan

🇺🇦 передбачати

🇵🇱 przepowiadać

🇯🇵 予兆する (よちょうする)

🇫🇷 présager

🇪🇸 presagiar

🇹🇷 önceden haber vermek

🇰🇷 예고하다

🇸🇦 يتنبأ

🇨🇿 předpovídat

🇸🇰 predpovedať

🇨🇳 预示 (yùshì)

🇸🇮 napovedovati

🇮🇸 fyrirboða

🇰🇿 болжап айту

🇬🇪 წინასწარმეტყველება

🇦🇿 öncədən xəbər vermək

🇲🇽 presagiar

Etymology

The word 'foreshadow' originated from the combination of 'fore-' and 'shadow' in the early 19th century. It was first used in the context of literature to describe the technique of hinting at future events or outcomes. The concept of foreshadowing has since become a popular literary device used to create suspense and anticipation in storytelling.

See also: foreshadowing, overshadow, shadowed, shadowily, shadowing, shadowy.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,510, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.