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
Pilots can then forewarn passengers and crew, encouraging them to take their seat and buckle up before a jolt hits.
From Scientific American ● Jul. 1, 2023
Fed Chair Jerome Powell earlier this week also outlined the longer-term shifts that may forewarn a long period of elevated interest rates and inflation that responds only slowly to the Fed's restrictive policy.
From Reuters ● Dec. 2, 2022
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
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
It forewarns of a changing landscape for the disease.
From New York Times ● Apr. 11, 2024
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
"When someone becomes quite well-known in one area, it will be flagged to our area, so we are forewarned and can identify them a lot earlier before they commit multiple crimes," she said.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
But be forewarned: A dizzying liftoff doesn’t mean the stock will keep flying.
From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026
But be forewarned: It can and does happen.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 19, 2026
“Everyone should be forewarned on this one,” Dimon says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2025
Crisp and sweet in her lungs as she breathes, sending a shiver down to her toes that is caused by more than the forewarned drop in temperature.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
The panic generated by Jamie Dimon’s “cockroaches” forewarning last October has never fully dissipated.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 27, 2026
When the demolition crews arrived Monday at the White House, there had been no forewarning.
From Salon ● Oct. 25, 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
The lack of forewarning strains the availability of resources and aid provided to new arrivals at the receiving site, which includes food, clothing, hygiene kits, health checkups and legal orientation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2023
The trouble was, the forewarning was no use at all, not so far as the mice were concerned.
From "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien
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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.
