forebode

[fawr-bohd, fohr-]

See more synonyms for forebode on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), fore·bod·ed, fore·bod·ing.

to foretell or predict; be an omen of; indicate beforehand; portend: clouds that forebode a storm.
to have a strong inner feeling or notion of (a future misfortune, evil, catastrophe, etc.); have a presentiment of.

verb (used without object), fore·bod·ed, fore·bod·ing.

to prophesy.
to have a presentiment.

Origin of forebode

First recorded in 1595–1605; fore- + bode¹

Related formsfore·bod·er, nounun·fore·bod·ed, adjective

Can be confusedforbade forbid forbidden forebode

Synonyms for forebode

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1. foreshadow, presage, forecast, augur.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for forebode

presage, foresee, omen, portend, betoken, forecast, foreshadow, indicate, forewarn, foretell, promise, augur, prognosticate, divine, bode, foretoken, premonish

Examples from the Web for forebode

Contemporary Examples of forebode

The color has also been used to forebode an omen or a threat.
On St. Patrick’s Day, Beware Those Sly Green Eyes
Laura Dimon
March 17, 2013

Historical Examples of forebode

Yes, it surely must be the banshee, and what does it forebode?
The Heir of Kilfinnan
W.H.G. Kingston
What should be the next arrow from her quiver she trembled to forebode.
Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 2 (of 2)
John Roby
The expression of her face was so tragic that it seemed to forebode evil.
A Country Sweetheart
Dora Russell
Perhaps—but her tone did not forebode a cheerful conversation.
Mrs. Maxon Protests
Anthony Hope
If she did not appear it might forebode the very worst of disasters.
Anxious Audrey
Mabel Quiller-Couch

British Dictionary definitions for forebode

forebode

verb

to warn of or indicate (an event, result, etc) in advance
to have an intuition or premonition of (an event)

Derived Formsforeboder, noun

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

Word Origin and History for forebode

"feel a secret premonition," c.1600, from fore- + bode. Related: Foreboded; foreboding. Old English forebodian meant "to announce, declare."