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

These attacks show how universities have become predictable targets. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Dec. 2025

This misalignment has predictable effects, such as an explosion in the number of hospital administrators, compared to physicians – ten administrative and management staff to every one doctor. —Anthony Digiorgio, Oc Register, 6 Dec. 2025

But for the rest of the viewers, the ending was anything but predictable. —Ew Staff December 5, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Dec. 2025

Try to establish a predictable routine that your child can rely on. —Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 5 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1820, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for predictable

• indictable
• unpredictable