harbinger
4 synonyms for harbinger, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A person or sign that shows something is about to happen, especially something important.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use harbinger
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a harbinger of doom
a harbinger of change
harbinger of spring
Etymology
Originally meant a person sent ahead to arrange lodgings for travellers, from Old French herbergeor, related to "harbor."
Full origin of harbinger →Frequently asked questions
What does “harbinger” mean?
The word “harbinger” means a person or sign that shows something is about to happen, especially something important. In plain terms, an early sign or messenger that something (often significant, sometimes bad) is coming.
How do you pronounce “harbinger”?
“Harbinger” is pronounced HAH-bihnd-zhuh (/ˈhɑɹ.bɪn.d͡ʒəɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “harbinger” in a sentence?
Here is “harbinger” used in a sentence: “The first robin of spring is often seen as a harbinger of warmer weather.”
What part of speech is “harbinger”?
“Harbinger” is a noun.
Where does the word “harbinger” come from?
The word “harbinger” comes from Old French. Originally meant a person sent ahead to arrange lodgings for travellers, from Old French herbergeor, related to "harbor.".
