herald

herald — verb

1. to show that something important — often something positive — is about to begin;

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to show that something important — often something positive — is about to begin; or to publicly announce or welcome something as it arrives, often with praise or celebration.

Example

For local farmers, the first green shoots herald the end of the cold winter months.

herald + noun phrase (omen-like subject)

World leaders heralded the 2023 peace agreement as a historic step forward.

be heralded as + noun (passive, praising)

Common collocations
  • herald a new era
  • herald the arrival of
  • be heralded as a breakthrough
  • herald change
Synonyms
  • foreshadow

    implies something negative or neutral will follow; narrower than 'herald'

  • announce

    more direct and factual; less poetic and celebratory

  • usher in

    phrasal verb, more informal, often used for periods or eras

  • proclaim

    only about public declaration; does not carry the 'sign' meaning

Grammar Patterns

herald + noun

be heralded as + noun/adjective

Usage Note

Frequently used in the passive structure 'be heralded as [something]' where the object is a positive achievement or development. When used actively, the subject is often a natural sign or event rather than a person.

Common Mistakes

The rain heralded that summer was coming.
The rain heralded the arrival of summer.
'herald' takes a direct object or 'as' complement, not a that-clause.

herald — noun

Word family

  • heraldic
    adjectiveC1
  • heraldry
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words involve making something known or showing that something is coming, but they differ in tone and scope. 'Announce' is the most neutral and direct — you announce a flight departure or a new policy, with no implication of praise. 'Proclaim' is grander and more public, often used for official or celebratory declarations ('The king proclaimed a public holiday'). 'Foreshadow' carries a darker or neutral tone and is limited to the 'sign' meaning — a dark cloud foreshadows rain, but cannot be used for praise. 'Usher in' is a phrasal verb that fits periods or eras ('The treaty ushered in a new era of peace'), and is slightly less formal than 'herald'. Use 'herald' when you want both the signalling and the welcoming — for example, a peace agreement does not merely announce change, it heralds a hopeful new chapter.

foreshadowannounce ↗proclaim ↗usher in ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • widely heralded
  • often heralded

Phrases

  • herald a new era of
  • be heralded as

Prepositions

  • herald of
  • herald for

Etymology

FrankishOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'herald' traces back to Old French 'heraut' (a messenger), which came from Frankish 'hariwald', meaning 'army commander' — from 'hari' (army) and 'wald' (to rule). In medieval Europe, a herald was an officer who made announcements at tournaments and carried messages between rulers. By the 14th century, the verb sense 'to announce' had appeared, and by the 1500s it had taken on the figurative meaning of 'to signal that something is approaching'.