forewarn
Americanverb (used with object)
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forewarns,
present (3rd person singular)
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forewarned,
past participle, past
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forewarning
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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forewarnsimple
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forewarnssimple
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have forewarnedperfect
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has forewarnedperfect
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am forewarningprogressive
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are forewarningprogressive
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is forewarningprogressive
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have been forewarningperfect progressive
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has been forewarningperfect progressive
Past
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forewarnedsimple
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had forewarnedperfect
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was forewarningprogressive
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were forewarningprogressive
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had been forewarningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of forewarn
First recorded in 1300–50, forewarn is from the Middle English word forwarnen. See fore-, warn
Explanation
When you forewarn your friend about the pop quiz in math, you let her know beforehand that it's happening. You should forewarn your friends about the highway construction that might slow them down when they come to visit you, and you could forewarn your shy exchange student that your dad likes to interrogate people at the dinner table. The verb forewarn combines fore, as in "before" or "early," with warn, "inform of danger or problems." You may have heard of the proverb "forewarned is forearmed," which means you're at an advantage if you know what's coming in advance.
Vocabulary lists containing forewarn
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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.
See Examples For:
It is vital the devices stay hidden, she said, before adding: "We would urge the government to forewarn the public that alerts might be issued, when possible."
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
We constantly tried to forewarn our partners — but for the most part, they thought it was an exaggeration, an example of Russophobia.
From Salon ● Apr. 9, 2022
Businesses that didn’t forewarn customers should attempt to reach out, by forwarding a company phone to a cell phone, for example, or using a mobile phone as a hot spot for an internet connection.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 1, 2021
Cryan’s departure, orchestrated by Achleitner, who broke off a family Easter holiday in Peru to travel to New York and London to forewarn some investors, took many other major shareholders by surprise, the sources said.
From Reuters ● Apr. 11, 2018
She seemed to always have premonitions of their coming and would forewarn my father.
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
It’s dark and, as the album title forewarns, there is plenty in that mood here—at times evoking societal situations, just as often depicting the ravages of his own age.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026
When she has audio calls, she forewarns her colleagues she might lose connection.
From BBC ● May 30, 2026
A frozen opening shot of the exterior of a luxury California home forewarns of the tedium to come.
From New York Times ● Mar. 18, 2022
Lawrence forewarns readers of his travel writing from Italy.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 2, 2021
“My brother wears one in a ring. And as he’s a sea captain, the opal forewarns him of ocean storms. He says it has never been wrong.”
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
But Great Britain's new sprint sensation forewarned everyone exactly what was coming here.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
But be forewarned: A dizzying liftoff doesn’t mean the stock will keep flying.
From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026
On paper, the companies beat Wall Street expectations — but that’s only because analysts were forewarned.
From MarketWatch ● May 2, 2026
“Everyone should be forewarned on this one,” Dimon says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2025
He had been forewarned by John that it was a two-chain affair, held together by the A-T and G-C base pairs, and so immediately upon entering our office he studied its detailed features.
From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson
The economist once known as Dr. Doom, after forewarning the Japanese crash of the 1990s, said interest rates are likely to break higher soon, taking the stock market with it.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 9, 2026
When the demolition crews arrived Monday at the White House, there had been no forewarning.
From Salon ● Oct. 25, 2025
The best bet is that they’re coming back, so consider this a forewarning.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2025
It may be best to roll it out slowly, with trial periods and plenty of forewarning to markets.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2025
So she walked into the kitchen alone and without forewarning to find out what was causing her husband’s outcry.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
