# forerunner

/ˈfɔˌɹənɝ/ (US) · /fˈɔːɹʌnɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/forerunner
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

someone or something that comes before a new thing and shows what it will be like. In sports, it is a team or player that wins a match before the final game.

For teachers: a person or thing that precedes and indicates the coming of another. In a sporting context, it refers to a team or individual that wins a preliminary match to qualify for a later stage.

## Examples

- The team was the forerunner to the eventual champions.
- The semi-final match served as a forerunner to the final, giving the crowd a taste of the high-stakes action to come.
- While the early rounds are often dismissed as mere warm-ups, they serve as a vital forerunner to the championship, establishing the psychological and physical demands of the season.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.