forecast

verb

fore·cast | \ ˈfȯr-ˌkast

; fȯr-ˈkast\

forecast also forecasted; forecasting

Definition of forecast

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : to calculate or predict (some future event or condition) usually as a result of study and analysis of available pertinent data The company is forecasting reduced profits. especially : to predict (weather conditions) on the basis of correlated meteorological (see meteorology sense 1) observations They're forecasting rain for this weekend.

b : to indicate as likely to occur Optimists are forecasting an immediate upswing in business.

2 : to serve as a forecast of : presage Such events may forecast peace.

intransitive verb

: to calculate the future if it turns out as I forecasted

forecast

noun

fore·cast | \ ˈfȯr-ˌkast

Definition of forecast (Entry 2 of 2)

1 archaic : foresight of consequences and provision against them : forethought

2 : a prophecy, estimate, or prediction of a future happening or condition

Other Words from forecast Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about forecast

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Choose the Right Synonym for forecast

Verb

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 forecast in a Sentence

Verb

They're forecasting rain for this weekend. The company is forecasting reduced profits. Experts forecast that the economy will slow in the coming months.

Noun

want to catch the weather forecast so I'll know what kind of clothes to pack for the trip tomorrow

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The art market can be frustratingly opaque, but a series of telltale events—including auctions ongoing in London and a major art fair opening Thursday in New York—could help forecast the trajectory of art prices this year. — Kelly Crow, WSJ, "Art Collectors Seek Clues to Market Strength at London Sales, New York Fair," 2 Mar. 2019 Some relief is expected Friday, with Meteorologists forecasting a high of 23 C (73F), with cooler temperatures continuing through the weekend. — Casey Quackenbush, Time, "Death Toll in Canada Heat Wave Jumps to 34," 5 July 2018 However, a flood advisory is in effect through Saturday morning and the National Weather Service forecasts the river will rise to near 11.2 feet by Friday evening. — Rafael Guerrero, Naperville Sun, "East branch of DuPage River under flood warning; Naperville Riverwalk flooded," 22 June 2018 Many analysts have forecast further declines barring an especially frigid February. — Stephanie Yang, WSJ, "Drillers Are Easing Off the Gas," 27 Jan. 2019 Will designers try to reflect the fact that by the time these collections are available for sale the nation is widely forecast to be struggling in a post-Brexit chaos of its own dubiously conceived but undeniably democratic making? — Luke Leitch, Vogue, "6 Talking Points From the Fall 2019 Menswear Season to Come Inspired by Virgil... (Not the Virgil that You’re Thinking Of)," 3 Jan. 2019 Economists have forecast that employers added 189,000 jobs in August and that the unemployment rate dipped from an already-low 3.9 percent to 3.8 percent, according to data provider FactSet. — Christopher Rugaber, Fox News, "Solid US job growth is likely to be reported for August," 7 Sep. 2018 The group has forecast that 246 million people would travel by air between June 1 and Aug. 31, up 3.7 percent from a year earlier. — Fortune, "Looking to Avoid Airport Crowds? You'll Have to Wait Till Thanksgiving — Or Christmas," 5 July 2018 The National Weather Service has forecasted a high in the mid-90s for the city Saturday, with heat index values as high as 106. — Ese Olumhense, chicagotribune.com, "Thousands expected in Loop Saturday to rally against separation of immigrant families," 29 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The global population of ultrawealthy individuals—defined as having a net-worth of at least $30 million—is forecast to rise 22% to nearly... — Katherine Clarke, WSJ, "Can the World’s Wealthiest Absorb the High-End Home Glut?," 6 Mar. 2019 The animated sequel had been forecast to draw around $50 million. — Jake Coyle, The Seattle Times, "‘The Lego Movie 2’ opens No. 1 but everything is not awesome," 11 Feb. 2019 Chinese coal demand specifically is forecast to decline by three percent over the same period. — Megan Geuss, Ars Technica, "King Coal isn’t dead—he’s just been exiled from the US," 20 Dec. 2018 In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index rose 0.6 percent to close at 21,431.49 despite news that Japan’s exports sank 8.4 percent in January from a year earlier, far more than forecast. — Elaine Kurtenbach, The Seattle Times, "World shares mostly higher on upbeat talk on China-US trade," 20 Feb. 2019 Amazon’s ad revenue is expected to increase to $15 billion in 2020, or just under 10% of the digital ad market share in the U.S., from $11.3 billion in 2019 and an 8.8% share, according to the latest forecast. — Alexandra Bruell, WSJ, "Amazon’s Ad Business May Be Growing Faster Than Thought," 20 Feb. 2019 On Groundhog's Day, the fortune-telling rodent predicted an early spring, but winter certainly doesn't seem to be winding down, according to this week's harsh forecast. — Jennifer Aldrich, Country Living, "Brace Yourselves: The Entire Country Will be Hit by a Brutal Winter Storm This Week," 12 Feb. 2019 The event began with a drizzly forecast that showed no signs of stopping, but neither did anything else that day. — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, "Inside Miami's Pegasus Cup, the World’s Richest Horse Race," 1 Feb. 2019 The day’s high temperature is expected to be near 77 degrees, with a nighttime low of about 60, according to an online forecast from the National Weather Service in Norton. — Jeremy C. Fox, BostonGlobe.com, "Showers and storms to be followed by cooler weather in Boston area," 11 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'forecast.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.