forerun

UK: /fɔːˈrʌn/ US: (fôr run′, fōr-)

Inflections of 'forerun' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

foreruns

v 3rd person singular

forerunning

v pres p

foreran

v past

forerun

v past p

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

fore•run  (fôr run′, fōr-), v.t., -ran, -run, -run•ning. 

1. to run in front of;
   come before;
   precede.
2. to be the precursor or harbinger of;
   prefigure.
3. to anticipate or foretell.
4. to forestall.
5. to outrun or outstrip.

• 1505–15; fore- + run; probably not continuous with Middle English forerennen (intrans.) to run ahead, Old English fōryrnan

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

forerun / fɔːˈrʌn/ verb ( -runs, -running, -ran, -run)(transitive)

1. to serve as a herald for
2. to go before; precede
3. to prevent or forestall