forewarn

verb

fore·​warn fȯr-ˈwȯrn How to pronounce forewarn (audio)
forewarned; forewarning; forewarns

transitive verb

: to warn in advance

Examples of forewarn in a Sentence

I should forewarn you before you come to visit that we have a dog.
Recent Examples on the Web But be forewarned: You may get distracted by the views. Sarah Kuta, The Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2024 And the Maryland Department of Legislative Services forewarned that the state would face structural budget deficits while Moore’s predecessor, Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, was still in office. Hannah Gaskill, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2024 Still, forewarned is forearmed, and there was also criticism about the sound mixing for Nolan's 2020 film, Tenet. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 5 Aug. 2023 Be forewarned, though—there’s a Mars Retrograde in Leo beginning that month! Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Dec. 2023 The crowded clinic was the starting point of a medical mystery that forewarns an alarming new public health crisis in Africa. Stephanie Nolen Tiksa Negeri, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2023 At the height of the Cold War, media theorist Marshall McLuhan forewarned that World War III would take the form of an information guerrilla war with military and non-military targets. Ajay Khari, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023 Conricus, speaking on CNN today, said that the pauses in the most active part of the battlefield in northern Gaza were scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and that civilians in the area were forewarned and urged to flee south. NBC News, 6 Nov. 2023 Selected bus routes run into the wee hours, but be forewarned that many will be out of service by the time Beyoncé leaves the stage. Jon Healey, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'forewarn.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of forewarn was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near forewarn

Cite this Entry

“Forewarn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forewarn. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

forewarn

verb
fore·​warn fōr-ˈwȯ(ə)rn How to pronounce forewarn (audio)
fȯr-
: to warn in advance
forewarned of danger

More from Merriam-Webster on forewarn

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