herald
n. countable C1 Advanced US //ˈhɛɹəɫd// UK //hˈɛɹəld// her·ald
n. a sign that something big or important is about to happen. It can also be a person who brings news or a message.
n. a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another. Often used figuratively to describe an event that precedes a significant change.
The first flowers are a herald of spring.
In the tech industry, the release of this new chip is seen as a herald of a faster computing era.
The sudden drop in stock prices served as a grim herald of the economic recession that would soon grip the entire continent.
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'of' to indicate what is being announced.