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 instead of continuing the story at the moment Iris comes to after her vision, the film jumps forward to the present day, where Iris’ premonition has become her granddaughter Stefanie’s (Kaitlyn Santa Juana) recurring nightmare. —Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 22 May 2025

But Annabelle is also haunted by terrifying dreams — ones where her family are affected — and which Annabelle soon realizes aren’t just figments of her imagination, but premonitions of what’s to come. —Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 19 May 2025

That’s particularly true of his final work, the dystopian premonition 1984. —Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025

The setup entails a group of people who escape death after one of them has a premonition that a tragic catastrophe is about to occur. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 May 2025

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

Rhymes for premonition

• abolition
• acquisition
• admonition
• ammunition
• apparition
• apposition
• coalition
• competition
• composition
• definition
• deglutition
• demolition

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