What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
forerunner
Example
The invention of the printing press was a forerunner to the digital age. [forerunner: noun]
Example
The dark clouds were a forerunner of the storm that was about to hit. [forerunner: noun]
harbinger
Example
The robin is considered a harbinger of spring. [harbinger: noun]
Example
The sudden drop in temperature was a harbinger of the snowstorm that was coming. [harbinger: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Forerunner is more commonly used than harbinger in everyday language, especially in academic or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between forerunner and harbinger?
Forerunner is more formal than harbinger, which is often used in literary or poetic contexts.
