Predict

//pɹɪˈdɪkt// noun, verb

noun, verb ·Common ·High school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A prediction. obsolete

    "Or say with Princes if it shall go well, / By oft predict that I in heaven find."

Verb
  1. 1
    To make a prediction: to forecast, foretell, or estimate a future event on the basis of knowledge and reasoning; to prophesy a future event on the basis of mystical knowledge or power. transitive

    "After he had renounced his fathers bishoprick of Valentia in Spaine... and to attaine by degrees the Maiesty of Cesar, was created Duke of that place, gaue for his poesie, Aut Cesar, aut nihil. which being not fauoured from the heauens, had presently the euent the same predicted."

  2. 2
    indicate, as with a sign or an omen wordnet
  3. 3
    To imply. transitive, usually

    "It is interesting to see how clearly theory predicts the difference between the ascending and descending curves of a dynamo."

  4. 4
    make a prediction about; tell in advance wordnet
  5. 5
    To make predictions. intransitive

    "The devil can both predict and make predictors."

Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    To direct a ranged weapon against a target by means of a predictor. rare, transitive

    "They're predicting us now; looks like a barrage."

Synonyms

All synonyms
anticipateaugurcallforecastforeshadowforetell

Example

More examples

"The best way to predict the future is to invent it."

Etymology

Early 17th century, from Latin praedīcō (“to mention beforehand”) (perfect passive participle praedictus), from prae- (“before”) + dīcō (“to say”). Equivalent to Germanic forespeak, foretell, and foresay.

Related phrases

by means ofranged weapon

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.