crystal ball

noun

1
: a sphere especially of quartz crystal traditionally used by fortune tellers
2
: a means or method of predicting future events

Examples of crystal ball in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These people are bold and know that no crystal ball can promise them the future. Isabelita Castilho, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025 Blame sticky prices, volatile tariffs, and a macroeconomic crystal ball clouded by stagflation fears. Quartz Staff, Quartz, 13 May 2025 Colin Grabow, associate director, Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute No crystal ball is needed to see that tariffs will almost certainly be higher in 2028 than when President Trump took office in January − the only question is by how much. Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025 Until then, unfortunately, there’s no crystal ball. Jessica Hartshorn, Flow Space, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crystal ball

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of crystal ball was in 1834

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Cite this Entry

“Crystal ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crystal%20ball. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

crystal ball

noun
: a clear ball especially of quartz crystal used by a fortune-teller to predict the future
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