herald 1 of 2

herald

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word herald distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of herald are forerunner, harbinger, and precursor. While all these words mean "one that goes before or announces the coming of another," harbinger and herald both apply, chiefly figuratively, to one that proclaims or announces the coming or arrival of a notable event.

their early victory was the harbinger of a winning season
the herald of a new age in medicine

In what contexts can forerunner take the place of herald?

Although the words forerunner and herald have much in common, forerunner is applicable to anything that serves as a sign or presage.

the blockade was the forerunner of war

When is it sensible to use precursor instead of herald?

While in some cases nearly identical to herald, precursor applies to a person or thing paving the way for the success or accomplishment of another.

18th century poets like Burns were precursors of the Romantics

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 herald
Noun
The launch of the Dragon 2 spacecraft and Falcon 9 booster—both created by SpaceX— heralds a new epoch when commercial, rather than government entities, take the lead in designing, delivering, and operating new spacecraft. IEEE Spectrum, 1 Oct. 2020 Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach star as the titular quartet, heroes who must defend the Earth against Galactus (Ralph Ineson), a ravenous space god who's hungry to devour the entire planet with the help of his herald, the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). Shania Russell, EW.com, 18 Feb. 2025
Verb
The Arctic tern is often heralded as the most impressive avian migrator for making the longest journey: a twice-yearly trip between Earth’s poles. Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025 The storm of activity heralding the new Bon Iver full-length Sable, Fable — including a gravlax pizza, a basketball tournament, and a light and chipper TV and podcast push — loudly insinuates that Vernon is deeply committed to having a better time now. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for herald
Recent Examples of Synonyms for herald
Noun
  • Book dispute is one of three religious rights cases The case is one of three religious rights cases the Supreme Court is deciding in the coming weeks, and appears likely to be part of a recent trend of the court siding with religious rights advocates.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Environmental advocates and cheerleaders for biodiversity were overjoyed that the wolves — who in their best moments look a lot like big, cuddly dogs — were making such an astonishing comeback.
    Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • While the stock market has proven to be one real-time tariff pulse, what’s happening on the water could be a harbinger of what’s to come.
    Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 24 Apr. 2025
  • The 1888 election revealed tensions among Democrats, primarily over the tariff, that became a harbinger of the party’s struggles in 1896.
    Adam M. Silver, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The intentionally half-baked approach to Season 2 foreshadows an overstuffed and potentially controversial third season, the emotional effect of which will be dulled by the likely long hiatus (Season 1 premiered in January 2023).
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • What Will Happen Next? Zuckerberg may have foreshadowed the endgame about seven years ago – divesting Instagram and possibly WhatsApp.
    Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • One of North Crowley’s best defenders announced his next step.
    Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Apr. 2025
  • This month, the United Nations World Food Program announced that the Trump administration was terminating emergency food assistance for 14 fragile countries around the world.
    Declan Walsh, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Prospective visitors, along with park proponents, are concerned about what the parks and experiences may look like after the sweeping layoffs across the National Park Service and the larger federal government in February.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Plan proponents saw this as a way to combat the district’s funding problems.
    Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Indeed, VistaVision was the forerunner of IMAX 65mm, with its horizontal orientation.
    Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2025
  • The company plans to recreate the mammoth, dodo, and Tasmanian tiger, or thylacine, by editing the genome of each species’ closest living relative to make a hybrid animal that would be visually indistinguishable from its extinct forerunner.
    Katie Hunt, CNN, 4 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Google is predicting a spike in search volumes this month for terms related to the recession that came to define the late 2000s.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Analysts predict earnings of $0.72 per share with sales of $11.17 billion for the forthcoming report, compared to sales of $11.23 billion and earnings of $0.72 per share for the same quarter the previous year.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • There are a couple of reasons why proclaiming the Good News from the Department of State’s website isn’t such good news.
    Chloe Breyer, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2025
  • In the ’80s, de-graffiti-fying and air conditioning the subways proclaimed to the world that New York was purring again.
    Justin Davidson, Curbed, 18 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Herald.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/herald. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

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