premonition

[pree-muh-nish-uhn, prem-uh-]

noun

1. a feeling of anticipation of or anxiety over a future event; presentiment.

   He had a vague premonition of danger.

   Synonyms: sign, omen, portent, foreboding

2. a forewarning.

premonition

/ prɪˈmɒnɪtərɪ, ˌprɛməˈnɪʃən, -trɪ /

noun

1. an intuition of a future, usually unwelcome, occurrence; foreboding

2. an early warning of a future event; forewarning

Other Word Forms

• premonitory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of premonition¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English premunicioun, from Late Latin praemonitiōn-, stem of praemonitiō “a forewarning”; equivalent to pre- + monition; also praemunire

Word History and Origins

Origin of premonition¹

C16: from Late Latin praemonitiō, from Latin praemonēre to admonish beforehand, from prae before + monēre to warn, advise

Example Sentences

The only explanation for these outrageously violent deaths was the theory that they had escaped their fate thanks to a harrowing premonition.

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There are almost no conversations, only premonitions and plans delivered in bullet-points like a group research project.

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I glanced over to find the mother staring into the abyss of the fridge, experiencing some premonition of what grim fate was about to befall her daughter.

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He had a premonition that history would repeat itself.

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Braxton: I’m sticking with my previous pick of Victoria having a premonition.

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Related Words

• foreboding 
• hunch 
• omen 
• portent