forebode

[ fawr-bohd, fohr- ]

verb (used with object)

, fore·bod·ed, fore·bod·ing.

1. to foretell or predict; be an omen of; indicate beforehand; portend:

   clouds that forebode a storm.

   Synonyms: augur, forecast, presage, foreshadow

2. to have a strong inner feeling or notion of (a future misfortune, evil, catastrophe, etc.); have a presentiment of.

verb (used without object)

, fore·bod·ed, fore·bod·ing.

1. to prophesy.
2. to have a presentiment.

forebode

/ fɔːˈbəʊd /

verb

1. to warn of or indicate (an event, result, etc) in advance
2. to have an intuition or premonition of (an event)

Derived Forms

• foreˈboder, noun

Other Words From

• fore·boder noun
• unfore·boded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of forebode¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; fore- + bode ¹

Example Sentences

By March this year, I felt well enough to climb one without any sense of foreboding.

From BBC

The soul of America, on this November day of our Lord, is a dark and foreboding place.

From Los Angeles Times

The scale of disinformation dominating the country is foreboding about the politics of the future.

From Salon

Such draconian conditions, combined with prisoners often on opposite sides of warring factions outside its walls, earned it a foreboding and violent reputation.

From BBC

Unfortunately, I have a deep and foreboding fear that he will be proven wrong.

From Salon

Related Words

• presage