English Meaning & Definitions
A person or thing that precedes the coming or development of someone or something else; a precursor.
- “The steam engine was the forerunner of the modern industrial revolution.”
- “Many consider this early prototype to be the forerunner of the smartphone.”
A sign or warning of something that is about to happen.
- “Dark clouds were the forerunner of the approaching thunderstorm.”
- “The sudden drop in temperature was a forerunner of the harsh winter to come.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “forerunner”.
Derived from the Middle English 'forrenner', a combination of the prefix 'fore-' (before) and 'renner' (runner). It traces back to Old English 'fore' and 'rinnan', reflecting the literal sense of someone who runs ahead to announce the arrival of a person or event.
Think of a 'fore' (front) 'runner' (person running) who is ahead of the pack.
Frequently Asked Questions About “forerunner”
1. What is the meaning of “forerunner” in English?
In English, forerunner (noun) is defined as: “A person or thing that precedes the coming or development of someone or something else; a precursor.”.
2. How do you use “forerunner” in a sentence?
“The steam engine was the forerunner of the modern industrial revolution.”
3. What are English synonyms of “forerunner”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “forerunner”?
Derived from the Middle English 'forrenner', a combination of the prefix 'fore-' (before) and 'renner' (runner). It traces back to Old English 'fore' and 'rinnan', reflecting the literal sense of someone who runs ahead to announce the arrival of a person or event.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.