Word: foreshadow (verb)

Associations

"Foreshadow" means to give a hint or sign about something that will happen later, usually in a story, movie, or event.

• In stories: "The dark clouds foreshadow a storm." This means the clouds hint that a storm is coming.
• In movies: "The broken mirror foreshadows bad luck for the character." The broken mirror is a sign of trouble ahead.
• In real life: "The early problems foreshadow difficulties in the project." Early problems suggest more problems will come. A synonym is "predict," but "foreshadow" is mostly used in stories or art to hint at future events, while "predict" is more general and can be used in everyday life or science.

Substitution

You can replace "foreshadow" with:

• hint at: "The clues hint at a surprise ending."
• suggest: "His nervousness suggests something is wrong."
• indicate: "The signs indicate a change is coming." Each word changes the tone slightly: "foreshadow" is more about storytelling, while "hint at" and "suggest" are softer, and "indicate" is more factual.

Deconstruction

"Foreshadow" = "fore" + "shadow"

• "Fore" means "before" or "in front of."
• "Shadow" means a dark shape or sign. Together, "foreshadow" means to cast a shadow before something happens, like a sign or warning before the event.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a movie or book where something foreshadowed a big event?
• Have you ever noticed a small sign that foreshadowed something important in your life?
• How does foreshadowing make stories more interesting?