herald
Americannoun
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(formerly) a royal or official messenger, especially one representing a monarch in an ambassadorial capacity during wartime.
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a person or thing that precedes or comes before; forerunner; harbinger.
the returning swallows, those heralds of spring.
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a person or thing that proclaims or announces.
A good newspaper should be a herald of truth.
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(in the Middle Ages) an officer who arranged tournaments and other functions, announced challenges, marshaled combatants, etc., and who was later employed also to arrange processions, funerals, etc., and to regulate the use of armorial bearings.
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an official intermediate in rank between a king-of-arms and a pursuivant, in the Heralds' College in England or the Heralds' Office in Scotland.
noun
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a person who announces important news
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( as modifier )
herald angels
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literary a forerunner; harbinger
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the intermediate rank of heraldic officer, between king-of-arms and pursuivant
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(in the Middle Ages) an official at a tournament
verb
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to announce publicly
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to precede or usher in
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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heraldsimple
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heraldssimple
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have heraldedperfect
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has heraldedperfect
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am heraldingprogressive
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are heraldingprogressive
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is heraldingprogressive
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have been heraldingperfect progressive
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has been heraldingperfect progressive
Past
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heraldedsimple
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had heraldedperfect
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was heraldingprogressive
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were heraldingprogressive
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had been heraldingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of herald
1300–50; Middle English herau ( l ) d < Old French herau ( l ) t < Frankish *heriwald, equivalent to *heri army + *wald commander ( see wield). Compare name Harold
Explanation
A herald is a sign of things to come. A chilly day in October is a herald of the coming winter. Years ago, a herald was an official who announced important news to the people. This is why many newspapers today have herald in their name. Nowadays, the noun herald refers to an early indicator that something is about to happen. Herald can also be used as a verb meaning "to praise" or "to greet enthusiastically." If you've been away from home for a long time, your family might herald your return, especially if you come bearing gifts.
Vocabulary lists containing herald
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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:
Does a performance like this, during the most-watched sporting event in the world, herald something similar coming soon to a stadium near you?
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
According the legend, boy and girl twins born in Higashi Village on a day with equal parts day and night herald a cataclysm that only they can mend.
From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2026
By scrapping discs, PlayStation is positioning itself as the first console-maker to herald an end to physical media.
From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026
French GDP shrank 0.1 percent in the first quarter, official data showed Friday, a downward revision from previous estimates that analysts warn could herald a recession for the eurozone's second-biggest economy.
From Barron's ● May 29, 2026
Hardly had the king’s new herald called the court to order than the ugliness began.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
She later meets another student, Mika, in the library, as a Filipino love song heralds the start of their passionate saga.
From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026
It was the biggest increase in four years, and heralds more inflation in the pipeline of the economy.
From MarketWatch ● May 13, 2026
His death, if confirmed and in such violent circumstances, heralds a new and uncertain future, both in Iran and the wider region.
From BBC ● Feb. 28, 2026
Experts say 2025 heralds the Grinch’s ascent from Yuletide bit player to Christmas A-lister.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 25, 2025
“Malcolm X’s decision to enter the mainstream of the straggle heralds a hopeful sign on the sickeningly dismal scene of brutalized, non-violent, passive resistance. ...”
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
In the interview on Friday, she praised Zelensky as a “wartime leader” and heralded Ukraine as “an essential ally.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
The New York Times heralded Mullin’s “warmer and fuzzier tone” during his confirmation hearing as a “sign that the administration wants to project a more moderated approach.”
From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2026
The former is heralded with a blast of horns; the latter guards its inner sanctum behind Tobie Windham’s officious sentry.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
It was heralded as one of the greatest-ever World Cup shocks, and the African nation did not even win.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
Mossflower country shimmered gently in a peaceful haze, bathing delicately at each dew-laden dawn, blossoming through high sunny noontides, languishing in each crimson-tinted twilight that heralded the soft darkness of June nights.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
It’s just one of many shows taking place from Pomona to Palm Desert, heralding a Latino-led youth revival where the freewheeling movement of mosh pits meets the raw power of punk rock: Inland Empire hardcore.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026
US President Donald Trump said in a social media post heralding the agreement, which he said would include the reopening of the strait to commercial shipping.
From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026
The cost of imported goods rose sharply in March for the third month in a row, heralding further increases in U.S. inflation in the next few months, mostly due to higher oil prices.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 15, 2026
The cost of imported goods rose sharply in March for the third month in a row, heralding further increases in U.S. inflation at least for the next few months, mostly due to higher oil prices.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 15, 2026
The restaurant was in the corner of a strip center, a striped vinyl banner above the door heralding its presence and its name.
From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez
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.
