herald
HEH-ruhld
Herald (noun) means a person or thing that announces or signals that something is coming. Example: “Church bells ringing across the valley were the herald of a festival day.”
noun
1
A person or thing that announces or signals that something is coming.
"Church bells ringing across the valley were the herald of a festival day."
"The first daffodils are a herald of spring."
"A messenger arrived as a herald of the king's decision."
verb
1
To announce or signal that something is about to happen.
"Warm winds and longer evenings herald the start of summer."
"The company's new product was heralded as a breakthrough."
"Dark clouds heralded the coming storm."
How to use herald
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone or something that announces good or bad news to come.
Common pairings
herald a new era
herald the arrival of
a herald of change
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Word forms
- Plural
- heralds
- Third person singular
- heralds
- Past tense
- heralded
Fill the gap
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Church bells ringing across the valley were the _____ of a festival day.
Etymology
From Old French heraut, ultimately from a Germanic word combining "army" with a root meaning "to have power" — the same root gives us the names Harold and Harald.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for herald
See all rhymes for herald →Frequently asked questions
What does “herald” mean?
The word “herald” means a person or thing that announces or signals that something is coming. In plain terms, someone or something that announces good or bad news to come.
How do you pronounce “herald”?
“Herald” is pronounced HEH-ruhld (/ˈhɛɹəld/ in IPA).
How do you use “herald” in a sentence?
Here is “herald” used in a sentence: “The first daffodils are a herald of spring.”
What part of speech is “herald”?
Depending on how it is used, “herald” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “herald” come from?
The word “herald” comes from Old French. From Old French heraut, ultimately from a Germanic word combining "army" with a root meaning "to have power" — the same root gives us the names Harold and Harald.
Is “herald” a common word?
“Herald” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “herald” have?
“Herald” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person or thing that announces or signals that something is coming.
What is the difference between a herald and a harbinger?
Both announce that something is coming, but a herald can be a person or thing that formally announces or signals an arrival, while a harbinger is usually a sign or forerunner, often of something bad. Herald is more neutral and can be positive, whereas harbinger frequently carries a note of warning.
What is the difference between herald and announce?
To announce is simply to make something known publicly, while to herald something is to signal or proclaim that it is about to happen, often with a sense of importance or ceremony. Heralding suggests that the thing being signaled is significant or eagerly awaited.
What are common collocations with herald?
As a verb, herald often appears in phrases such as herald a new era, herald the arrival of, and herald a change. As a noun, it commonly appears in "a herald of" something, as in "a herald of spring."
What did a herald do historically?
Historically, a herald was an official who carried messages, made public proclamations, and announced the arrival of important people, especially on behalf of royalty. This role is the origin of the modern meaning of a person or thing that announces that something is coming.
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