predict

verb

pre·​dict pri-ˈdikt 

predicted; predicting; predicts

transitive verb

: to declare or indicate in advance

especially : foretell on the basis of observation, experience, or scientific reason

intransitive verb

: to make a prediction

predictor

pri-ˈdik-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• augur
• call
• forecast
• foretell
• presage
• prognosticate
• prophesy
• read
• vaticinate

Choose the Right Synonym for predict

foretell, predict, forecast, prophesy, prognosticate mean to tell beforehand.

foretell applies to the telling of the coming of a future event by any procedure or any source of information.

seers foretold the calamity

predict commonly implies inference from facts or accepted laws of nature.

astronomers predicted an eclipse

forecast adds the implication of anticipating eventualities and differs from predict in being usually concerned with probabilities rather than certainties.

forecast snow

prophesy connotes inspired or mystic knowledge of the future especially as the fulfilling of divine threats or promises.

prophesying a new messiah

prognosticate is used less often than the other words; it may suggest learned or skilled interpretation, but more often it is simply a colorful substitute for predict or prophesy.

prognosticating the future

Examples of predict in a Sentence

All the local forecasters are predicting rain for this afternoon.

She claims that she can predict future events.

It's hard to predict how the election will turn out.

Many people predicted that the store would fail, but it has done very well.

Sales are predicted to be the same as last year.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll’s results came as a complete surprise to political observers, as no serious analyst has predicted that the Democratic nominee will defeat Trump in the state. —Dan Mangan, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2024

If Trump loses, Robinson predicts unrest on the right. —Zac Anderson, USA TODAY, 3 Nov. 2024

During Trump's first presidential run in 2016, 538 predicted on Election Day that his Democratic opponent former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had a 77 percent chance of winning Pennsylvania as opposed to Trump's 23 percent chance. —David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024

Trend-forecasting agency WGSN is also predicting deep berry tones will be strong for beauty into 2025, including for hair color, inspired by late ’90s and early 2000s aesthetics and today’s celebs, like Dua Lipa. —Sophia Panych, Allure, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin praedictus, past participle of praedicere, from prae- pre- + dicere to say — more at diction

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

predict

verb

pre·​dict pri-ˈdikt 

: to declare in advance : foretell on the basis of observation, experience, or reasoning

predictable

-ˈdik-tə-bəl 

adjective

predictably

-blē

adverb

Etymology

from Latin praedictus, past participle of praedicere "to predict, tell ahead of time," from prae- "pre-, earlier than, before" and dicere "to say" — related to dictate