Forebear Meaning in English
word
Definition
A forebear is someone in your family who lived a long time ago, like a great-grandparent or ancestor.
Usage & Nuances
Formal and literary; used more in writing than speech. Usually plural ('forebears'). Means direct ancestors—do not confuse with 'descendant' (opposite). Often used instead of 'ancestor' for stylistic variation.
Spanish: antepasadoPortuguese (BR): antepassadoPortuguese (PT): antepassadoChinese (Simplified): 祖先Chinese (Traditional): 祖先Hindi: पूर्वजArabic: سلفBengali: পূর্বপুরুষRussian: предокJapanese: 祖先Vietnamese: tổ tiênKorean: 조상Turkish: ata - ecdatUrdu: آبا و اجدادIndonesian: leluhur
Example Sentences
Our traditions have been passed down from our forebears for generations.
natural
Many of my forebears were farmers in the countryside.
natural
My forebear came to this country over one hundred years ago.
basic
We honor our forebears each year during the family reunion.
basic
She likes tracing her family tree back as far as her forebears in Europe.
natural
Stories about our forebears teach us about our heritage.
basic