Word: Foreboding
Part of Speech:
- Noun: A feeling or sense that something bad is going to happen.
- Adjective: Describing something that gives a sense of impending doom or danger.
Simple Definition:
"Foreboding" means having a strong feeling that something bad or unpleasant will happen. It’s like a warning that makes you feel uneasy.
Usage Instructions:
- As a noun, you can say, "I had a foreboding about the storm coming."
- As an adjective, you might say, "The dark clouds gave the day a foreboding feeling."
Examples:
1. Noun: "She felt a sense of foreboding as she walked through the empty house."
2. Adjective: "The foreboding music in the movie made me anxious about what would happen next."
Advanced Usage:
In literature, "foreboding" can be used to create tension in a story. Authors often use it to hint at future trouble for characters, making readers feel suspense.
Word Variants:
- Forebode (verb): To predict or warn of something bad.
- Forebodingly (adverb): In a way that suggests something bad will happen.
Different Meanings:
While "foreboding" generally relates to negative feelings or predictions, it can also refer to a general sense of anxiety about the future, even if specific events are not clear.
Synonyms:
- Omen
- Premonition
- Apprehension
- Portent
- Dread
Idioms:
There aren't specific idioms that use "foreboding," but you might hear phrases like "a dark cloud hanging over" to express a similar feeling of impending trouble.
Phrasal Verbs:
There aren't common phrasal verbs that directly relate to "foreboding," but you might use expressions like "to sense something" to convey a similar feeling of unease.
Conclusion:
Remember, "foreboding" can describe both a feeling you have and the atmosphere around events or situations.