Meaning & use

forebear

noun·Advanced

An ancestor, especially one from a distant generation.

See it in a sentence

Her forebears settled the valley more than two centuries ago.

The family traced their forebears back to a small village in Ireland.

A note on using this word

Not to be confused with the verb 'forbear,' meaning to hold back or restrain oneself.

Words with a similar meaning

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Words with an opposite meaning

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