forewarn
/fɔːˈwɔːn
/verb [with object]
Inform (someone) of a possible future danger or problem: he had been forewarned of a coup plot...
- What this means is that journalists need to forewarn people of the dangers of certain words and actions that carry the potential of plunging their communities or the nation into chaos.
- Mutterings that it was all too good to be true started long before now and those who forewarned us can take a dubious comfort from these figures.
- I consider myself to be quite dramatic, so if one day I become a successful actress remember that you were forewarned.
Synonyms
warn, prewarn, warn in advance, give advance warning, give fair warning, give notice, advise, apprise, inform;
put on one's guard about, alert about, caution about
informal tip off about, put wise to, put in the picture about, clue in about
British informal tip someone the wink about
rare premonish
harbinger, omen, augury, sign, signal, herald, indication, presage, portent, promise, prediction, forecast, premonition;
warning, advance warning, prior warning
informal tip-off
literary foretoken
Phrases
forewarned is forearmed
Derivatives
forewarner
- The middle speech was the first-party forewarner arguing persuasively for an exit exam requirement.
- He is our forewarner in uncertainty, our monitor in matters of doubt, our defender in danger, and our assistant in need.
- That is, if journalists were talking about an innovative technology, or about a social concern, that that was a forewarner that the theme was going to become important.