flashforward

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noun

A dramatic device in which a future event is inserted into the normal chronological flow of a narrative.

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Meanings

nounflashforward (plural flashforwards)

plural flashforwards · alternative flash-forward

  1. human sciencesA dramatic device in which a future event is inserted into the normal chronological flow of a narrative.

    This "Lone Ranger" begins and ends in a flash-forward, with an elderly Tonto installed in a carnival diorama behind a sign that reads "The Noble Savage."

    2013, “Depp’s Tonto: an upgrade on a stereotype or just an updated stereotype?”, in The Washington Post
verbflashforward (third-person singular simple present flashforwards, present participle flashforwarding, simple past and past participle flashforwarded)

present singular third person flashforwards · participle present flashforwarding · participle past flashforwarded · past flashforwarded · alternative flash-forward

  1. To use this dramatic device.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
prolepsis

Origin

Blend of flashback + forward.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish etuuma
  • etuumadramatic device
French flashforward
  • flashforwarddramatic device
German Vorausblende
  • Vorausblendedramatic device
Cite this entry
APA

flashforward. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/flashforward

MLA

“flashforward.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/flashforward. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “flashforward,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/flashforward.

Source: flashforward on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.