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

Likewise, buck bedding areas in swamps are usually predictable since their dry-land options are limited. —Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 9 Oct. 2024

In general, dividends are not always predictable, following the ups and downs of company profits over time. —Dividend Channel, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024

Harris would be a more predictable leader — and predictability is a quality foreign governments cherish. —Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2024

Paying attention to patterns over time can also help, even if the timing is less predictable. —Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 7 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1820, in the meaning defined at sense 1