premonition
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
A feeling of anticipation or anxiety about a future event, often a negative one, sometimes perceived as a supernatural warning.
An intuitive forewarning; a strong sense that something, typically unwelcome, is going to happen before there is any clear evidence for it.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
While often implying a supernatural or intuitive source, it can also be used for a strong, rational presentiment based on subtle clues. It is grammatically singular (countable noun).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Universally carries connotations of foreboding, intuition, and often (but not exclusively) supernatural insight.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in literary and formal contexts in both varieties. Not a common everyday word.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to have a premonition of/about [NP]to have a premonition that [CLAUSE]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A premonition of doom”
- “To be haunted by a premonition”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically: 'Analysts had a premonition of the market crash.'
Academic
Used in psychology, literary analysis, and history to discuss intuitive foresight or narrative foreshadowing.
Everyday
Used to describe a strong, unexplained feeling about a future event, often in personal narratives.
Technical
Not a technical term in hard sciences; used in parapsychology and certain philosophical discussions.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- No standard verb form in common use. 'Premonish' is archaic.
American English
- No standard verb form in common use. 'Premonish' is archaic.
adverb
British English
- premonitorily - Rarely used.
American English
- premonitorily - Rarely used.
adjective
British English
- premonitory - 'She experienced premonitory symptoms before the migraine.'
American English
- premonitory - 'The dark clouds were a premonitory sign of the storm.'
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She had a strange feeling that something bad would happen.
- I had a premonition about this trip.
- A sudden premonition of danger made her stop before crossing the street.
- He couldn't shake off the vague premonition that the deal would fall through.
- The protagonist's ominous premonition about the castle's secret proved tragically accurate.
- Her strong premonition of his betrayal was based on subtle shifts in his behaviour, not mere paranoia.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: PRE (before) + MONITION (related to 'admonish' - to warn). A warning you feel BEFORE an event happens.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE FUTURE IS A LANDSCAPE ONE CAN SENSE FROM AFAR; INTUITION IS A MESSENGER.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with 'предчувствие' in overly casual contexts where 'hunch' or 'feeling' is better. 'Premonition' is stronger and more formal.
- Do not confuse with 'предзнаменование' (omen), which is an external sign, not an internal feeling.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I have a premonition for disaster.' Correct: 'I have a premonition of/about disaster.'
- Incorrect: 'She premonitioned the accident.' (No common verb form exists). Correct: 'She had a premonition of the accident.'
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'premonition' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While the word often carries supernatural connotations, it can also describe a strong, rational intuition based on subconscious observation of subtle clues.
A 'premonition' is stronger, more formal, and often implies a sense of foreboding about a specific future event. A 'hunch' is more informal, vaguer, and can be positive or negative.
It is possible but less common. The word's default connotation leans towards anxiety or foreboding. For positive anticipation, 'presentiment' or simply 'feeling' is often more natural.
Not in modern standard usage. The archaic verb 'premonish' exists but is virtually never used. The typical construction is 'to have a premonition'.
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