Synonyms for forerunner
Most common
All synonyms
Noun
1. Precursor
precursor, predecessor, harbinger, herald, premonition, ancestor, omen, sign, messenger, augury, elder, prognostic, foregoer, progenitor
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
A runner at the front or ahead.
Forms
- Plural
- forerunners → precursors, predecessors, harbingers, heralds…
Example sentences
- herald It was the lark, the herald of the morn, no nightingale.
- predecessor His background parallels that of his predecessor.
- precursor Domestic corn's wild precursor was teosinte.
- harbinger The crowing of a cock is the harbinger of dawn.
- ancient The Coliseum was the former arena in ancient Rome.
- antecedent Alchemy was the antecedent of chemistry.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| forerunner | falling | |
| herald | rising | |
| predecessor | steady | |
| precursor | rising | |
| harbinger | rising | |
| ancient | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- sign1, omen2
- 5 letters
- elder2
- 6 letters
- herald2, augury
- 7 letters
- ancient2
- 8 letters
- ancestor3, foregoer
- 9 letters
- messenger3, precursor3, harbinger3
- 10 letters
- progenitor4, prognostic, antecedent4
- 11 letters
- predecessor4, premonition4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (omen2 = 2 syllables).