noun

foreshadowing

/fɔːrˈʃæd.oʊ.ɪŋ/ · say it: FOR-shad-oh-ing

hints of what will happen later in a story

In Literary English

In more detail

1. (noun) hints or signs that suggest what will happen later in a story, book, or film

2. (verb) to hint at or suggest something that will happen in the future

Examples

1. The dark clouds at the beginning of the movie were foreshadowing of the tragedy to come.
2. The author foreshadows the character's death through several mysterious events earlier in the novel.

How to use foreshadowing

Foreshadowing is a literary and cinematic technique where earlier elements subtly suggest or predict future plot developments. It differs from direct prediction in being indirect and atmospheric, often noticed only in retrospect. The term is used primarily in discussion of narrative craft and storytelling analysis.

Common phrases

dramatic foreshadowing
subtle foreshadowing
foreshadowing of events
foreshadowing device
foreshadowing technique
careful foreshadowing

Synonyms

foreboding · premonition · portent · omen · hint

Word family

foreshadow (verb) · foreshadowed (past tense/adjective)

A common mistake

Learners often confuse foreshadowing with flashback; foreshadowing points forward in time, while flashback goes backward.

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