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Definition of forebear

forebear

/ˈfɔːrˌbɛr/
fore · bear
Plural:forebears
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forebear Lexical Profile

forebear Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person from whom one is descended, or a past predecessor in a tradition or office (usually used in the plural).

Example

"The historical museum preserves the agricultural tools and handwritten journals left behind by the town's earliest forebears."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse the noun 'forebear' (an ancestor, typically stressed on the first syllable) with the verb 'forbear' (to refrain or hold back, stressed on the second syllable).

• Nearby Words

ford
fore
forearm
forebear
forebode
foreboding
forebodingly

Word Origin & Etymology

Originating in late 15th-century Scots as 'forebearis', formed from 'fore-' (before) and 'be-er' (one who exists), the spelling was later altered by folk-etymological association with the verb 'bear'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Forebear. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/forebear
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