predicate

noun pred·i·cate \ ˈpre-di-kət \

Definition of predicate

1 a :something that is affirmed or denied of the subject in a proposition in logic

b :a term designating a property or relation

2 :the part of a sentence or clause that expresses what is said of the subject and that usually consists of a verb with or without objects, complements, or adverbial modifiers

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predicative

play \-kə-tiv, -ˌkā-\ adjective

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predicatively

adverb

See predicate defined for English-language learners

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predicate was our Word of the Day on 05/03/2015. Hear the podcast!

Examples of predicate in a Sentence

In the sentence “The child threw the ball,” the subject is “the child” and the predicate is “threw the ball.”

Recent Examples of predicate from the Web

But that eventuality must not be discussed until the government is ready to lay the predicate for it with careful persuasion of the American public and America’s allies, and careful preparation for the military action required.

— eliot a. cohen, The Atlantic, "America Is Not Ready for a War in North Korea," 9 Aug. 2017
Some American officials had hoped to use the secret negotiations to obtain Mr. Warmbier’s release as the predicate for a dialogue with the North on other issues.

— mark landler and gardiner harris, New York Times, "China Falls Short on Curbing North Korea, Trump Says," 20 June 2017
What is the predicate for his actions in releasing this statement?

— chris cillizza, CNN, "What anonymous sources cost journalism," 18 June 2017
But the predicate for Trump policy is that strategic patience, the policy of the Obama administration, your administration, failed, so something else has to be tried.

— WSJ, "Where to Go Next on North Korea," 22 May 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of predicate

Middle English, from Late Latin praedicatum, from neuter of praedicatus

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

predicate

verb pred·i·cate \ ˈpre-də-ˌkāt \

Definition of predicate

predicated; predicating

transitive verb

1 a :affirm, declare

b archaic :preach

2 a :to assert to be a quality, attribute, or property —used with following of

predicates intelligence of humans

b :to make (a term) the predicate in a proposition

3 :found, base —usually used with on

the theory is predicated on recent findings

4 :imply

See predicate defined for English-language learners

Examples of predicate in a Sentence

she has predicated her theory on recent findings by other astronomers

Recent Examples of predicate from the Web

The simple fact of dominance in messaging usage by WeChat is a barrier for services like LinkedIn or Facebook that are predicated either on email or their own messaging features.

— adam lashinsky, Fortune, "Data Sheet—Monday, July 24, 2017," 24 July 2017
No American should be deprived of liberty or property without due process, and the process due in these cases — which are predicated on underlying criminal activity — is a criminal trial rather than a civil action.

— the editors, National Review, "Jeff Sessions Should Drop His Expansion of Civil Asset Forfeiture," 20 July 2017
Perhaps that’s because, unlike many other mental-health disorders, it’s predicated on self-control.

— sophie gilbert, The Atlantic, "To the Bone: The Trouble With Anorexia on Film," 14 July 2017
The case for net neutrality has always been predicated on trotting out this parade of horribles.

— travis kavulla, National Review, "Hitting the Refresh Button on Net Neutrality," 13 July 2017
Then again, 10 years ago no one could have predicated the American bourbon boom.

— hannah hayes, Southern Living, "Wild Turkey Hires Matthew McConaughey as New Creative Director," 11 July 2017
The deal, when announced last autumn, was predicated on a recovery in the oil price to $60 per barrel by 2019, an increase that now seems less likely with a glut of crude still circling the globe and keeping prices below $50.

— reuters, Fortune, "General Electric Is Making a Big Investment in Oil and Gas," 3 July 2017
The desire to become more Western was predicated on the need to become less mystical.

— alexander nazaryan, Newsweek, "Zohar's Translation Unlocks the Secrets of Jewish Mysticism in an Age of Extremism," 28 June 2017
When the puck is re-won, down low, there is then the challenge of clearing the zone, which means immediately turning defense into a brand of offense less predicated on scoring and more based on escaping.

— colin fleming, SI.com, "Despite changes in assessing defensive abilities, Selke Award still recognizes mastery," 23 June 2017

Did You Know?

The verb predicate means, among other things, "to found or base." Despite being attested as early as 1754, that sense has endured attack as a misuse on the grounds that it is not true to its Latin root praedicare, meaning "to proclaim, assert." This criticism, however, has subsided. Predicate can also mean "imply," but be careful about using it to mean "predict"-that use does appear in published sources sometimes, but it's an easy target for usage commentators, who are bound to consider it an all-too-predictable error. The meaning of predicate directly tapped from its Latin root-that is, "to assert"-most often occurs in metaphysic contemplation. A simplistic example of such use is the statement "if y is said to be x (e.g., an apple is a fruit), everything that is predicated of y is predicated of x."

Origin and Etymology of predicate

Late Latin praedicatus, past participle of praedicare to assert, predicate logically, preach, from Latin, to proclaim, assert — more at preach

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First Known Use: circa 1552

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predicate Synonyms

Synonyms

ground, hang, base, rest

Related Words

establish, found; assume, postulate, premise, presume, presuppose, suppose

predicate

adjective pred·i·cate \ ˈpre-di-kət \

Definition of predicate

:completing the meaning of a copula

predicate adjective

predicate noun

See predicate defined for English-language learners

Examples of predicate in a Sentence

In “the sun is hot,” “hot” is a predicate adjective.

Recent Examples of predicate from the Web

A predicate crime wasn’t required in order to ruin Scooter Libby’s career or send septuagenarian Joe Bonanno to prison.

— carl m. cannon, Orange County Register, "Trump-Russia: Cover-up worse than the crime?," 18 June 2017
Indiana’s 21st Century Scholar and Frank O’Brian Grant, both approved by the Indiana General Assembly in 2013, also predicate funding on earning 30 credits.

— lisa ward, WSJ, "The High Price of Not Completing College in Four Years," 8 June 2017
Currently, the FDA’s rules have a predicate date giving it authority over all vaping products introduced since Feb. 15, 2007, or virtually all vaping products on the market.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "'Vaping Congressman' introduces bill to ease FDA's e-cigarette restrictions," 29 Apr. 2017

First Known Use of predicate

1887

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

PREDICATE Defined for English Language Learners

predicate

noun

Definition of predicate for English Language Learners

grammar : the part of a sentence that expresses what is said about the subject

predicate

verb

Definition of predicate for English Language Learners

: to base (something) on or upon something else

predicate

adjective

Definition of predicate for English Language Learners

grammar : used after a linking verb to describe a noun that comes before the verb

PREDICATE Defined for Kids

predicate

noun pred·i·cate \ ˈpre-di-kət \

Definition of predicate for Students

:the part of a sentence or clause that tells what is said about the subject

“Rang” in “the doorbell rang” is the predicate.

predicate

adjective

Definition of predicate for Students

:completing the meaning of a linking verb

“Sweet” in “the sugar is sweet” is a predicate adjective.

Law Dictionary

predicate

transitive verb pred·i·cate \ ˈpre-də-ˌkāt \

legal Definition of predicate

predicated; predicating

:to set or ground on something :find a basis for —usually used with on

Jurisdiction over the lawsuit was predicated on the California contacts
—Daimler AG v. Bauman, 571 U.S. ___ (2014)

predicate

adjective pred·i·cate \ ˈpre-di-kət \

legal Definition of predicate

1 :occurring prior to and providing the basis or part of the basis for a conviction for another offense (as a RICO offense)

predicate acts

2 :occurring prior to and providing the basis for sentence enhancement upon conviction for a later offense

—

predicate

noun

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predicate

Definition of predicate

predicative

predicatively

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predicate was our Word of the Day on 05/03/2015. Hear the podcast!

Examples of predicate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of predicate from the Web

Origin and Etymology of predicate

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

predicate

Definition of predicate

Examples of predicate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of predicate from the Web

Did You Know?

Origin and Etymology of predicate

predicate Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

predicate

Definition of predicate

Examples of predicate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of predicate from the Web

First Known Use of predicate

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

PREDICATE Defined for English Language Learners

predicate

Definition of predicate for English Language Learners

predicate

Definition of predicate for English Language Learners

predicate

Definition of predicate for English Language Learners

PREDICATE Defined for Kids

predicate

Definition of predicate for Students

predicate

Definition of predicate for Students

Law Dictionary

predicate

legal Definition of predicate

predicate

legal Definition of predicate

predicate

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