as in ancestor
a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent
our forefathers bought this farm, and our family has worked it for three generations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of forefather
The boy’s sensitivities — and love of reading — mark him out for a different path than the field work of his forefathers.
—
Nicolas Rapold, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2025
The British Last Week Tonight host, who previously served as a writer and correspondent on The Daily Show for seven years, returned during Monday's episode to jokingly celebrate the country becoming just like its forefather.
—EW.com, 11 Feb. 2025
Our noble forefathers consented to hang anyone who messed with the currency.
—Nathan Lewis, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
As many scientists point out, Hippocrates helped lay the foundations for modern neurology and can be considered its forefather.
—Maria Bolevich, Interesting Engineering, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for forefather
Nicolas Rapold, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2025
The British Last Week Tonight host, who previously served as a writer and correspondent on The Daily Show for seven years, returned during Monday's episode to jokingly celebrate the country becoming just like its forefather.
—EW.com, 11 Feb. 2025
Our noble forefathers consented to hang anyone who messed with the currency.
—Nathan Lewis, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
As many scientists point out, Hippocrates helped lay the foundations for modern neurology and can be considered its forefather.
—Maria Bolevich, Interesting Engineering, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for forefather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forefather
Noun
-
During the Pleistocene, our ancestors lived through several different ice ages.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Until recently, the ancestors of insects were thought to be more millipede-like and evolved once invertebrates began to live on land.—
Riley Black,
Smithsonian Magazine,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Given his grandfather’s negative views on homosexuality, Min has not yet discussed being gay with his grandmother.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Steve Polidori joined his grandfather at the family’s meat-processing facility while studying at Colorado State University in the early ’90s and stayed on after graduation.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
It is understood that father and son didn’t meet before Charles and Camilla headed to Italy.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
In 1913, his father acquired the famed Indore Pear diamonds from Chaumet, marking the beginning of a long-standing relationship with the historic Parisian Maison, Christie’s said.—
Anthony DeMarco,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Forefather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forefather. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share