predictable

adjective

pre·​dict·​able pri-ˈdik-tə-bəl 

1

: capable of being predicted : able to be known, seen, or declared in advance

a predictable reaction/outcome

a very predictable plot

changes occurring at a steady and predictable rate

2

: behaving in a way that is expected

I knew he would say that. He's so predictable.

predictability

pri-ˌdik-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

By comparing the projections, meteorologists can get a measure of the weather's predictability: The less agreement among the forecasts, the less predictable the weather.

—Richard Monastersky

Examples of predictable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Picking three Week 8 locks was always going to be challenging, as weeks that look predictable on paper often end up being the ones that feature the most upsets. —Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025

Compact Umbrella London is no stranger to rainy days, and as many cities gear up for less predictable weather this fall and winter, Ali says an umbrella is a must-have item for any trip. —Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025

Stores are back to displaying prices, and the economic climate is more stable and predictable. —Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 25 Oct. 2025

Proudfoot and his team, including Kris Bowers, pull all the right (if predictable) emotional strings, underscoring Hesse’s memories with majestic orchestral music fit for an Old Hollywood epic. —Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1820, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for predictable

• indictable
• unpredictable