Adumbrate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˈa-dəm-ˌbrāt/ ad·um·brate

Meaning & Definition of Adumbrate

Adumbrate (verb)

  1. to foreshadow vaguely, intimate
  2. to suggest, disclose, or outline partially
  3. overshadow, obscure

Adumbrate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to give a slight indication of beforehand

    "the strife in Bloody Kansas in the 1850s adumbrated the civil war that would follow"

    similar: forerun, foreshadow, harbinger, herald, prefigure
    related: anticipate, foreknow, foresee, forecast, foretell, predict, prognosticate, prophesy, forewarn, augur, bode, forebode, portend, presage, promise, allude, connote, hint, imply, insinuate, intimate, suggest

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Adumbrate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Adumbrate:

forerun, foreshadow, harbinger, herald, prefigure

Related Words for Adumbrate

anticipate, foreknow, foresee, forecast, foretell, predict, prognosticate, prophesy, forewarn, augur, bode, forebode, portend, presage, promise, allude, connote, hint, imply, insinuate, intimate, suggest

Word Forms of Adumbrate

Inflections: adumbrated, adumbrating

Derived words: adumbration (noun), adumbrative (adjective), adumbratively (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Adumbrate

borrowed from Latin adumbrātus, past participle of adumbrāre "to shade, represent by means of light and shade, sketch, outline," from ad- ad- + -umbrāre, verbal derivative of umbra "shadow" umbrage

First known use: 1537

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Adumbrate

Frequently Asked Questions about Adumbrate

What does "Adumbrate" mean?

"Adumbrate" means to foreshadow vaguely, intimate. As a verb, it is defined as: to foreshadow vaguely, intimate.

What is another word for "Adumbrate"?

Other words for "Adumbrate" include forerun, foreshadow, harbinger, herald and prefigure. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Adumbrate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Adumbrate"?

There are 27 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Adumbrate". Common alternatives include forerun, foreshadow, harbinger, herald and prefigure.

How do you use "Adumbrate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Adumbrate" in a sentence: "the strife in Bloody Kansas in the 1850s adumbrated the civil war that would follow".

Is "Adumbrate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Adumbrate" is a verb.

Is "Adumbrate" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Adumbrate" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Adumbrate"?

"Adumbrate" is pronounced /ˈa-dəm-ˌbrāt/ and divided into syllables as ad·um·brate.

What is the origin of the word "Adumbrate"?

"Adumbrate" comes from borrowed from Latin adumbrātus, past participle of adumbrāre "to shade, represent by means of light and shade, sketch, outline," from ad- ad- + -umbrāre, verbal derivative of umbra "shadow" umbrage. First known use: 1537.