1
as in precursor
one that announces or indicates the later arrival of another
the return of the swallows is traditionally regarded as a forerunner of spring
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in ancestor
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed
enjoyed the demonstration of the simple hand loom that was the forerunner of today's computer-controlled looms
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of forerunner
Las Damas was founded in May 1948 and put on the Beachcomber’s Carnival, a forerunner of the Sunset Beach Art Festival, in July of that year.
—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Oc Register,
7 May 2026
The brand was also a forerunner with exclusive collaborations.
—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
The Hunt family made their wealth in the oil business, and Lamar Hunt founded the American Football League and the Dallas Texans, the forerunner to the Chiefs.
—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
5 May 2026
Radio public affairs broadcasting is seen as a forerunner to television public affairs programming.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for forerunner
Marla Jo Fisher,
Oc Register,
7 May 2026
The brand was also a forerunner with exclusive collaborations.
—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
The Hunt family made their wealth in the oil business, and Lamar Hunt founded the American Football League and the Dallas Texans, the forerunner to the Chiefs.
—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
5 May 2026
Radio public affairs broadcasting is seen as a forerunner to television public affairs programming.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for forerunner
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forerunner
Noun
-
Those resolutions are considered a precursor to the Declaration of Independence.
-
Feeding peanuts to the fans evolved, but the early days, whether for the precursor to Aramark or the work of Stevens, were all about a few simple items.
Noun
-
Kean comes from a long line of public servants, stretching 250 years to the country’s founding when one of his ancestors became New Jersey’s first leader since independence.
-
One of these is likely the evolutionary ancestor of all that is to come.
Noun
-
And so those last 25 minutes served as a bizarre risk-management experiment that is likely to be a harbinger of what is to come in this tournament.
-
Power’s deserted worksites could be received as a harbinger of a world without workers, one in which unmanned machines no longer need the humans who helped build them.
Noun
-
Future projects will also depend on successful prototype testing, regulatory approvals, construction milestones, and definitive customer agreements before any revenue-generating power plants come online.
-
Musk has sought for more than a decade to get the public comfortable with SpaceX’s approach to rocket development, which emphasizes testing cheap prototypes in flight and embracing the occasional mishap rather than trying to guarantee perfection.
Noun
-
The heralds operate like independent contractors, with their own caseloads.
-
The series serves as an origin story for how Norrin Radd (voiced by Paul Essiembre) becomes the herald of Galactus (James Blendick), then breaks free from the clutches of the Devourer of Worlds to surf around the galaxy and help others.
Noun
-
The housing bill, formally called the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, can still become law if Trump neither signs it nor vetoes it in 10 days, excluding Sundays.
-
There are signs all around Preston Hollow opposing the project.
Noun
-
Two thousand was a sign the angels were watching over me.
-
The 21-year-old Islander, who made her entrance dressed as an angel, appears to spend her time horseback riding, traveling and modeling.
Cite this Entry
“Forerunner.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forerunner. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
