Foreshadow: meaning, definitions and examples
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foreshadow
[ ˈfɔːrˌʃædoʊ ]
literature
To show or indicate beforehand; prefigure: The author's use of dark imagery foreshadowed the tragic ending of the novel.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
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foreshadow |
Often used in literature and storytelling to hint at future events in a subtle way.
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predict |
Commonly used in everyday situations where someone is making an educated guess about future events based on current information.
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foretell |
Usually used in contexts involving prophecy or predicting future events with a sense of certainty, especially in historical or mythical settings.
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portend |
Often used in a formal or literary context to indicate that something, usually negative, is likely to happen.
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Examples of usage
- The storm clouds foreshadowed the approaching bad weather.
- The mysterious stranger in the opening scene foreshadowed the main character's destiny.
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
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
foreshadow |
Typically used in literature or storytelling to indicate an event that will happen later in the narrative.
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omen |
Often used in a more mystical or superstitious context to signify a future event, typically with a negative or foreboding connotation.
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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.
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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.
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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.