premonition

[ pree-muh-nish-uhn, prem-uh- ]
See synonyms for premonition on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a feeling of anticipation of or anxiety over a future event; presentiment: He had a vague premonition of danger.

  2. a forewarning.

Origin of premonition

1
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English premunicioun, from Late Latin praemonitiōn-, stem of praemonitiō “a forewarning”; equivalent to pre- + monition; also cf. praemunire

Other words for premonition

Words Nearby premonition

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use premonition in a sentence

  • As Conan says with eerie premonition, “I just think that guy is going to hurt me.”

    Secrets of the Late Night War | Bryan Curtis | November 8, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • But I am shocked how these new rumors have been codified into a kind of collective South African premonition.

    Will the World Cup Start a Riot? | Gretchen L. Wilson | June 10, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • All through the sad duties of the next four days Felipe was conscious of the undercurrent of this premonition.

    Ramona | Helen Hunt Jackson
  • If Delancy had stayed a little longer at the scene of his crime, he would have learned that his premonition was founded in truth.

  • So solemn was his air, so sober his voice, that both girls felt a premonition of the untoward message that he bore.

    Mistress Wilding | Rafael Sabatini
  • Her arms drew closer about her body, while a shiver ran through it—a premonition perhaps.

    The Woman Gives | Owen Johnson
  • Nita felt a strange, tremulous thrill sweep over her—was it ecstasy or a premonition of evil?

    They Looked and Loved | Mrs. Alex McVeigh Miller

British Dictionary definitions for premonition

premonition

/ (ˌprɛməˈnɪʃən) /


noun
  1. an intuition of a future, usually unwelcome, occurrence; foreboding

  2. an early warning of a future event; forewarning

Origin of premonition

1
C16: from Late Latin praemonitiō, from Latin praemonēre to admonish beforehand, from prae before + monēre to warn, advise

Derived forms of premonition

  • premonitory (prɪˈmɒnɪtərɪ, -trɪ), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012