- present participle of foreshadow.
foreshadowing
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of foreshadowing
First recorded in 1845–50; foreshadow ( def. ) + -ing 1 ( def. )
Explanation
Foreshadowing is an advance sign or warning of what is to come in the future. The author of a mystery novel might use foreshadowing in an early chapter of her book to give readers an inkling of an impending murder. When you want to let people know about an event that is yet to occur, you can use foreshadowing. Foreshadowing is used as a literary device to tease readers about plot turns that will occur later in the story. A fortune teller might use foreshadowing, warning that a short life line is a sign of some impending disaster.
Vocabulary lists containing foreshadowing
Power Prefix: fore-
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Literary Devices & Figures of Speech - Introductory
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The AP English Exam: Rhetorical and Literary Terms 3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“The last two times we saw this was in 1999 and 2021, and in both cases, this was incredibly foreshadowing for an event coming at us,” he said.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
The savvy storyteller is an expert at foreshadowing - dropping subtle hints about big releases in everything from her outfit choices to her website aesthetics.
From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026
On the last earnings call in January, CEO Phong Le indicated the company would sell Bitcoin “when it is advantageous to do so,” possibly foreshadowing the recent transaction.
From Barron's ● Jun. 1, 2026
“Mythos could find and exploit vulnerabilities in every major operating system and web browser—even when used by non-experts,” it said, foreshadowing how AI-driven cyber risks could destabilize the financial system if not managed carefully.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026
Scientists seeking a step-by-step guide to the novel science of artificial radioactivity needed to study Lauritsen; those seeking a foreshadowing of the new science’s possible harvest consulted Lawrence.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
