forerun: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Rare/Archaic)Literary, Formal, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “forerun” mean?
to come before in time or order.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to come before in time or order; to precede or indicate something that will follow.
To act as a precursor, herald, or advance sign of something; to go in front of or ahead of someone or something.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Virtually no difference in contemporary usage, as the word is equally rare and formal in both varieties.
Connotations
In both, it carries literary, somewhat archaic, or formal/historical connotations.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both British and American English. Any usage is likely in specialized historical, poetic, or formal texts.
Grammar
How to Use “forerun” in a Sentence
[Subject] foreruns [Object] (transitive)[Subject] is forerun by [Object] (passive)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “forerun” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The dark clouds and gusty winds will forerun the heavy storm.
- These small protests foreran the major revolution that changed the country.
- An envoy was sent to forerun the queen's procession through the town.
American English
- A period of economic boom often foreruns a major recession.
- The scout's report foreran the arrival of the main cavalry unit.
- In the novel, the strange dreams forerun the character's transformation.
adverb
British English
- The messenger rode forerun to announce the king's approach.
- She walked forerun, scouting the path for hazards.
American English
- He traveled forerun to secure accommodations for the group.
- The plane flew forerun, checking the weather conditions.
adjective
British English
- The forerun scouts reported back to the general.
- We studied the forerun theories that shaped modern physics.
American English
- The forerun symptoms of the illness were quite mild.
- He discussed the forerun movements that influenced modern art.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Occasionally in literary criticism or historical analysis to describe precursors.
Everyday
Not used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Rare, but might appear in meteorology or historical texts to describe preceding signs or events.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “forerun”
Strong
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “forerun”
- Using it as a common synonym for 'predict'.
- Using it in casual speech where 'come before' or 'lead to' would be natural.
- Confusing the verb 'forerun' with the much more common noun 'forerunner'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare and considered formal or archaic. The noun 'forerunner' is significantly more common.
It is primarily a transitive verb. While historically it could be used as other parts of speech, modern usage is almost exclusively verbal.
Generally, no. In most contexts, 'precede', 'come before', 'herald', or 'foreshadow' are more natural and widely understood choices.
'Forerun' is the verb meaning 'to come before'. 'Forerunner' is the noun meaning 'a person or thing that comes before and signals the approach of another' or 'a predecessor'. The noun is far more prevalent in contemporary usage.
to come before in time or order.
Forerun is usually literary, formal, archaic in register.
Forerun: in British English it is pronounced /fɔːˈrʌn/, and in American English it is pronounced /fɔːrˈrʌn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “none directly; related to the common noun 'forerunner' as in 'a forerunner of'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a RUNner who goes FOR(E) the others — the one who runs ahead and signals the coming of the main group.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A PATH; the future lies ahead. To forerun is to travel part of that path before others, marking the way.
Practice
Quiz
In modern English, which word is the most common and neutral replacement for the verb 'forerun'?