forerunner
noun
fore·run·ner
ˈfȯr-ˌrə-nər 
1
: one that precedes and indicates the approach of another: such as
a
: a premonitory sign or symptom
b
: a skier who runs the course before the start of a race
2
Examples of forerunner in a Sentence
a simple machine that was the forerunner of today's computers
I had that strange feeling that's the forerunner of a cold.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jarry is often cited as a forerunner to the Dada, surrealist and futurist movements in the early 20th century and later, the theater of the absurd.
—
Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 July 2025
Gilligan, who also created Saul’s forerunner Breaking Bad, will serve as writer and showrunner.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 25 July 2025
The Council identified five policy stances that should anchor the party’s agenda: federal aid to education, a national health insurance program (the forerunner of Medicare), housing for the elderly, urban renewal, and a firm stance on civil rights.
—Time, 23 July 2025
Also in 1884, the first meeting of Colored Teachers Association took place in Austin.
1889: Robertson Hill School, the city's first Black high school and forerunner of L.C. Anderson, was opened not far from Ebenezer Baptist Church near San Marcos and East 11th streets.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
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Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 July 2025
Gilligan, who also created Saul’s forerunner Breaking Bad, will serve as writer and showrunner.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 25 July 2025
The Council identified five policy stances that should anchor the party’s agenda: federal aid to education, a national health insurance program (the forerunner of Medicare), housing for the elderly, urban renewal, and a firm stance on civil rights.
—Time, 23 July 2025
Also in 1884, the first meeting of Colored Teachers Association took place in Austin.
1889: Robertson Hill School, the city's first Black high school and forerunner of L.C. Anderson, was opened not far from Ebenezer Baptist Church near San Marcos and East 11th streets.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for forerunner
Cite this Entry
“Forerunner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forerunner. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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