herald

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ˈhɛrəld/ 🇺🇸 /ˈhɛrəld/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of something; a forerunner or harbinger.; An official messenger, especially one who carried messages between rulers or announced important news in medieval times.; An officer of the College of Arms or similar institution responsible for matters of genealogy, coats of arms, and ceremonial protocol.
  2. verb
    To announce or signal the approach or arrival of something.; To acclaim or praise enthusiastically; to greet with approval.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: heralds 3rd sing.: heralds Past: heralded Past part.: heralded Pres part.: heralding

Collocations

herald a new eraherald the arrival ofherald of changeherald of doomherald the beginning

Derivatives

heraldicheraldryheraldically

Synonyms

harbingermessengerforerunnerprecursorannouncersign

Commonly confused

harbinger
EN: 'Harbinger' often carries a negative or ominous connotation (harbinger of doom), while 'herald' is more neutral or positive.
heraldry
EN: 'Heraldry' is the study and design of coats of arms and armorial bearings, not the act of announcing or signaling.

Spelling tips

EN: Do not confuse the spelling with 'herold' (incorrect). Note that 'heraldry' drops the second 'a' from 'herald' when adding the suffix.

💬 Examples

  1. The first robin is often considered a herald of spring.

  2. The king sent a herald to deliver his proclamation to the neighboring kingdom.

  3. The herald verified the family's coat of arms before the ceremony.

  4. The dark clouds heralded the coming storm.

  5. Critics heralded the novel as a masterpiece of modern literature.