The crocus is a forerunner of spring.
Source: tatoeba (62754)
Forerunner
Synonyms for "forerunner" (135 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (27)
advertisementadvertiserancestorannouncementannouncerantecedentascendantauguryauthoravant gardeavant-gardebell cowbell marebellwetherborn leaderbuccinatorbuccinator novi temporisbushwhackercharismatic leaderchoirmaster
Strong matches (41)
choraguscoachconductorcoryphaeusduceenvoyevangelevangelistexampleexemplarexplorerfile leaderforebearforebearsforefatherforegoerforeshadowforeshadowerforetokenforewarning
Show 14 more words
front runnerfrontiersmanfuglemanfuhrergabrielgroundbreakerguideharbingerheraldherald angelinitiatorinnovatorinspired leaderinstructor
Related words (67)
lead runnerleaderleader of menmahdimarkmentormessengermessiahmodelomenoriginaloriginatoroutriderpacemakerpacesetterpathfinderpatternpioneerpointportent
Show 36 more words
precedentprecentorprecursorpredecessorpremisepremonitionpremonitorpreparationistpreparatorpreparerpresagepresagerprogenitorprognosticprototyperiggingringleaderropescoutsignstandard bearerstandard-bearerstockstormy petrelsymphonic conductorsymptomteachertokentorchbearertrailblazertrailbreakertrainervanguardvaunt-couriervoortrekkerwarning
Noun(11 words)
lead runneroutriderspace setterpioneerprecedentsprecursorspredecessorspreemptorpreludesprogenitorstrendsetter
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: harbinger, precursor, predecessor, advertisement, advertiser.
- Sentence evidence is available for forerunner, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "forerunner".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "forerunner"
Keep "forerunner" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "forerunner" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "forerunner", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "forerunner" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
10 entriesMore specific
5 entriesCollocations
6 entriesearly forerunnerforerunner in scienceforerunner of changeforerunner to progresshistorical forerunnernotable forerunner
Inflections
2 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
14 total sentences available.
Already he had forgotten the harsh attacks on him by the Volapükists. He spoke only of the great work of his forerunner. He asked the congress to honour his name.
Source: tatoeba (4433679)
In the blue vault of the heaven there had appeared three little specks which increased in size every moment, so rapidly did they approach. They speedily resolved themselves into three large brown birds, which circled over the heads of the two wanderers, and then settled upon some rocks which overlooked them. They were buzzards, the vultures of the west, whose coming is the forerunner of death.
Source: tatoeba (6310885)
Scientists have unearthed in northwestern Argentina fossils of the earliest-known giant dinosaur, a four-legged plant-eater with a medium-length neck and long tail that was a forerunner of the largest land animals of all time.
Source: tatoeba (6990346)
Showing 4 of 14 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "forerunner"?
Closest matches include harbinger, precursor, predecessor, advertisement, advertiser.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "forerunner"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.