forewarn

[ fawr-wawrn, fohr- ]
See synonyms for: forewarnforewarnedforewarning on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to warn in advance.

Origin of forewarn

1
First recorded in 1300–50, forewarn is from the Middle English word forwarnen.See fore-, warn

Other words for forewarn

Other words from forewarn

  • fore·warn·er, noun
  • fore·warn·ing·ly, adverb
  • un·fore·warned, adjective
  • well-fore·warned, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use forewarn in a sentence

  • I will not engage you without forewarning you of the terrible things you may have to encounter during the winter night.

    A Book of Ghosts | Sabine Baring-Gould
  • Father Underhill felt quite guilty in not forewarning his wife of the conspiracy, but one evening she mistrusted.

    A Little Girl in Old New York | Amanda Millie Douglas

British Dictionary definitions for forewarn

forewarn

/ (fɔːˈwɔːn) /


verb
  1. (tr) to warn beforehand

Derived forms of forewarn

  • forewarner, noun
  • forewarningly, adverb

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