- (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
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'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
