- (transitive; may take a clause as object) to state or make a declaration about in advance, esp on a reasoned basis; foretell
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
pre•dict /prɪˈdɪkt/USA pronunciation v.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to declare in advance;
foretell: [~ + object]He predicted the defeat months before the election.[~ + (that) clause]She predicted that you would be elected.
pre•dict (pri dikt′),USA pronunciation v.t.
v.i. pre•dict′a•ble, adj.
pre•dict′a•bil′i•ty, n.
pre•dict′a•bly, adv.
- to declare or tell in advance;
prophesy;
foretell:to predict the weather; to predict the fall of a civilization.
v.i.
- to foretell the future;
make a prediction.
- Latin praedictus, past participle of praedīcere to foretell, equivalent. to prae- pre- + dic-, variant stem of dīcere to say + -tus past participle suffix; see dictum
- 1540–50
pre•dict′a•bil′i•ty, n.
pre•dict′a•bly, adv.
- 1. 2. presage, divine, augur, project, prognosticate, portend. Predict, prophesy, foresee, forecast mean to know or tell (usually correctly) beforehand what will happen. To predict is usually to foretell with precision of calculation, knowledge, or shrewd inference from facts or experience:The astronomers can predict an eclipse;
it may, however, be used without the implication of underlying knowledge or expertise:I predict she'll be a success at the party.Prophesy usually means to predict future events by the aid of divine or supernatural inspiration:Merlin prophesied the two knights would meet in conflict;
this verb, too, may be used in a more general, less specific sense. I prophesy he'll be back in the old job. To foresee refers specifically not to the uttering of predictions but to the mental act of seeing ahead; there is often (but not always) a practical implication of preparing for what will happen:He was clever enough to foresee this shortage of materials.Forecast has much the same meaning as predict;
it is used today particularly of the weather and other phenomena that cannot easily be accurately predicted:Rain and snow are forecast for tonight. Economists forecast a rise in family income.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
predict /prɪˈdɪkt/ vb
'predict' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
augur - bet - bode - call - crystal gazing - forecast - foretell - pollen count - portend - predictive - previse - prognosticate - project - quant - skittish - theory - zodiac - apocalyptist - back - divine - dopester - forebode - foresee - forespeak - fortuneteller - genetic screening - handicap - historicism - humanly - matrix mechanics - mispredict - nonpredictable - prediction - predictor - predictory - presage - prophesy - public-opinion poll - read - tell - think tank - uncertain - unpredictable - unpredicted - unpredicting - watcher - wave function - second-guess - soothsay - spae