premonition

noun

pre·​mo·​ni·​tion ˌprē-mə-ˈni-shən  ˌpre- 

1

: previous notice or warning : forewarning

2

: anticipation of an event without conscious reason : presentiment

Synonyms

• foreboding
• presage
• presentiment
• prognostication

Examples of premonition in a Sentence

She had a premonition that he would call.

she had a premonition that her cat would somehow get hurt that day

Recent Examples on the Web

But she’s overcome by fear, a premonition that catastrophe is on the way. —John Bleasdale, Variety, 3 Nov. 2024

The current political season, dense with incident and overcast with grim premonitions, feels more difficult than usual to take in at just a glance. —Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2024

After watching tape of the Toreros defense during the week, Adebayo had what amounted to a premonition. —Dean Spiros, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2024

The supermarket gave him a premonition of something sinister to come. —Harmony Holiday, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English premunition, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin premunition-, premunitio, alteration of Late Latin praemonitio, from Latin praemonēre to warn in advance, from prae- + monēre to warn — more at mind

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

premonition

noun

pre·​mo·​ni·​tion ˌprē-mə-ˈnish-ən  ˌprem-ə- 

: a feeling that something is going to happen

a premonition of disaster

premonitory

pri-ˈmän-ə-ˌtōr-ē

-ˌtȯr-

adjective