foreshadowing
/fɔrˈʃædoʊɪŋ/
noun
- The use of hints or signs in a story to suggest what will happen later.
- In the film, the broken mirror is a clear example of foreshadowing.
- The author uses foreshadowing early in the novel to hint at the surprise ending.
- Teachers often explain foreshadowing when discussing how stories build suspense.
Synonyms
verb
- Present participle of foreshadow: serving as a sign or warning of something that will happen in the future.
- The scientist's early experiments were foreshadowing the major discovery she would make years later.
- The strange behavior of the animals was foreshadowing the earthquake.
- The sudden silence was foreshadowing the announcement of bad news.