WordGarden.ioforeknowledge
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /fɔːnˈɒlɪdʒ/
US
Meanings
Noun
knowledge of something before it happens
divine knowledge of future events
Beyond the definition
Foreknowledge isn't just thinking something will happen. It is knowing about it before it actually does. It can feel like a small look into the future, though it does not have to come from magic. Think of someone being told in secret that a company is about to close, or a character in a story who learns that danger is coming.
The word points to "knowing before"—"fore" means before, and "knowledge" means understanding. It is often used when people talk about fate, prophecy, warning, or careful planning. A person with foreknowledge of a disaster may try to stop it or get others to safety. Sometimes, having this kind of knowledge feels more like a burden than a gift.
Foreknowledge refers to the knowledge of an event before it takes place. It's more than just a guess or prediction; it implies a degree of certainty about something that hasn't happened yet. This knowledge can come from various sources—careful observation, logical deduction, intuition, or even (in fiction) supernatural means like prophecy or dreams.
You might say a skilled chess player seems to have foreknowledge of an opponent's next move because they can read the position so well. In a story, a warning dream, a prophecy, or a secret message may give someone foreknowledge of trouble ahead. In literature, foreknowledge is often used to create dramatic irony, where the audience knows something the characters do not, building suspense or highlighting a tragic fate.
However, foreknowledge isn't always about grand prophecies or life-altering events. It can be as simple as knowing your favorite bakery will run out of croissants by noon, giving you foreknowledge that you need to arrive early if you want one.
The concept of foreknowledge often raises philosophical questions about free will and destiny. If someone has foreknowledge of an event, does that mean the event is inevitable? Or can they use their knowledge to change the future? This makes it a powerful tool for storytelling and exploring complex themes.
Examples
- 1
Schedule change
We had no foreknowledge of the schedule change, so half the team arrived late.
- 2
Crime context
Police are investigating whether anyone at the bank had foreknowledge of the attack.
- 3
Storytelling
In the story, her foreknowledge that the marriage would fail makes every happy moment feel uneasy.
- Patternforeknowledge that + clause
knowing in advance that something will happen
See also
Similar
- prescience
- advance knowledge
Shades of meaning
- precognition
- premonition
- foresight
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- divine foreknowledge
- with foreknowledge of
Explore
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- foreknowledgenoun