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

Buffalo’s flaws have been familiar and predictable. —Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025

The arrangement allows the county to benefit from predictable, lower-cost renewable energy while advancing its sustainability goals. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2025

By posing bold, imaginative, and sometimes unconventional questions, people can push AI beyond predictable patterns and uncover insights that would otherwise remain hidden. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025

Licensing third-party films — particularly those in later pay windows — offers more predictable economics and higher margins than producing new, untested series. —Alejandro Rojas, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1820, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for predictable

• indictable
• unpredictable