Standard Lemma guide

forewarn

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • CMU ARPABET: F AO0 R W AO1 R N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To warn in advance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

warn in advance or beforehand; give an early warning

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • I forewarned him of the trouble that would arise if he showed up at his ex-wife's house

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: previse

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: warn

History

Etymology

Early 14th century, from Middle English *forewarnen (suggested by Middle English forewarned, forewarning, forewarner, etc.), from Old English forewarnian (“to take warning beforehand; forewarn”), from Proto-Germanic *furawarnōną (“to forewarn”), equivalent to fore- + warn. Cognate with German vorwarnen (“to forewarn”), Swedish förvarna (“to forewarn”).

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: предупреждавам (predupreždavam) — to warn in advance
  • Dutch: waarschuwen — to warn in advance
  • Dutch: op de hoogte stellen — to warn in advance
  • French: précautionner — to warn in advance
  • German: vorwarnen — to warn in advance
  • Italian: premonire — to warn in advance
  • Latin: praemoneō — to warn in advance
  • Latin: praeclamo — to warn in advance
  • Māori: whakatūpato — to warn in advance
  • Portuguese: pré-avisar — to warn in advance
  • Portuguese: acautelar — to warn in advance
  • Swedish: förvarna — to warn in advance