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
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
She seemed to always have premonitions of their coming and would forewarn my father.
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
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
Carl Safina makes a strong case for the supremacy of “Moby-Dick” as a novel in which Herman Melville forewarns of the errors that civilization may make.
From New York Times ● Jun. 26, 2020
“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
On paper, the companies beat Wall Street expectations — but that’s only because analysts were forewarned.
From MarketWatch ● May 2, 2026
That’s a very real possibility—and a big problem for Wall Street, Morgan Stanley’s Lisa Shalett forewarned on Monday.
From Barron's ● Mar. 30, 2026
“Everyone should be forewarned on this one,” Dimon says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2025
His pitch: We should all be forewarned if the enemy’s H-bombs are heading our way.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2024
All persons are forewarned of harboring said girl, under penalty of law prescribed.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
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
It may be best to roll it out slowly, with trial periods and plenty of forewarning to markets.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2025
Featured on her newest album “Cowboy Carter,” her version completely reimagines Parton’s original narrative — with Beyoncé forewarning Jolene instead of Parton’s previous pleading.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 2, 2024
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
Definitions 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.
