predicate

1 of 3

noun

pred·​i·​cate ˈpre-di-kət 

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

predicative

ˈpre-di-kə-tiv 

-ˌkā-

adjective

predicatively adverb

predicate

2 of 3

verb

pred·​i·​cate ˈpre-də-ˌkāt 

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

predicate

3 of 3

adjective

pred·​i·​cate ˈpre-di-kət 

: completing the meaning of a copula

predicate adjective

predicate noun

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."

Synonyms

Verb

• base

Examples of predicate in a Sentence

Noun

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

Verb

she has predicated her theory on recent findings by other astronomers

Adjective

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Johnson’s task was to prepare the jury to interpret, for example, the use of a company card to buy baby oil, or a flight for an escort, as the predicate offense warranting life in prison. —Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 3 July 2025

Prosecutors during the trial aimed to demonstrate a pattern of racketeering or two or more RICO predicate acts that occurred over 10 years. —Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2025

Verb

Maxwell’s conviction was, after all, predicated on the existence of these men, as the jury at her trial heard and believed following testimony from victims. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2025

Now it’s predicated purely on compatibility, and that can very easily devolve into an algorithm as opposed to matters of the heart. —Carlos Aguilar, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2025

Adjective

There are numerous cases where antisemitic groups have engaged in actions that qualify as predicate acts under these statutes, and they should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. —Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025

Each node contains a description of a subject, predicate, object and other schema types. —Ehsan Jahandarpour, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

Verb

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

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1887, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing predicate

• predicate calculus
• predicate nominative

Rhymes for predicate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

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Kids Definition

predicate

1 of 3 noun

pred·​i·​cate ˈpred-i-kət 

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

"threw the ball" in "the child threw the ball" is the predicate

predicative

ˈpred-i-kət-iv 

ˈpred-ə-ˌkāt-

adjective

predicate

2 of 3 verb

pred·​i·​cate ˈpred-ə-ˌkāt 

predicated; predicating

: base entry 2 sense 2

your theory is predicated on the belief that ghosts exist

predication

ˌpred-ə-ˈkā-shən

noun

predicate

3 of 3 adjective

pred·​i·​cate ˈpred-i-kət 

: belonging to the predicate

especially : completing the meaning of a linking verb

hot in "the sun is hot" is a predicate adjective

compare attributive

Legal Definition

predicate

1 of 2 transitive verb

pred·​i·​cate ˈpre-də-ˌkāt 

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

2 of 2 adjective

pred·​i·​cate ˈpre-di-kət 

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