predict

play

verb pre·dict \pri-ˈdikt\

Definition of predict

transitive verb
: to declare or indicate in advance; especially : foretell on the basis of observation, experience, or scientific reason
intransitive verb
: to make a prediction

predictability

play \-ˌdik-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

predictable

play \-ˈdik-tə-bəl\ adjective

predictive

play \-ˈdik-tiv\ adjective

predictively

play \-lē\ adverb

predictor

play \-ˈdik-tər\ noun

See predict defined for English-language learners

See predict defined for kids

Examples of predict in a Sentence

All the local forecasters are predicting rain for this afternoon.
She claims that she can predict future events.
It's hard to predict how the election will turn out.
Many people predicted that the store would fail, but it has done very well.
Sales are predicted to be the same as last year.

Recent Examples of predict from the Web

Triple Five predicts American Dream would draw 300,000 visitors a day and create about 14,500 permanent jobs.

— curt anderson, The Seattle Times, "Retail-tainment: Don’t call biggest US mall in Miami a mall", 30 May 2017
In return for the investment, the city predicts the development will generate $19 million in tax dollars over the next 20 years.

— lucy berry, AL.com, "Demolition underway at Merchants Square retail project in Huntsville", 30 May 2017
Ano predicted that the military operation will take about a week as soldiers go house to house to clear the city of militants.

— Washington Post, "Philippines forces hit militants; civilians wave white flags", 27 May 2017
Model X deliveries have yet to keep pace with the Model S, as Musk predicted, and U.S. registrations of the SUV have slipped the last two quarters, according to IHS Markit.

— Bloomberg.com, "Tesla Experiencing Growing Pains With Model X", 26 May 2017
Predicting the impact on jobs from trade agreements often is a fool's errand.

— glenn kessler, chicagotribune.com, "Fact check: President Trump's claim that he's already saved 'millions of jobs' on his foreign trip", 26 May 2017
Rhea Kuhlman, leader of a resident group near San Diego State that has successfully lobbied the city for minidorm legislation in recent years, predicted her neighborhood’s problem with yard parking would spread under the new granny flat legislation.

— david garrick, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Plan to loosen San Diego granny flat rules takes key step forward", 26 May 2017
Some predicted a rocky core, perhaps the size of Earth or several Earths.

— kenneth chang, New York Times, "NASA’s Jupiter Mission Reveals the ‘Brand-New and Unexpected’", 25 May 2017
A group of researchers created a computer model back in 2015 that predicted only a handful of self-driving cars could dramatically reduce traffic jams.

— avery thompson, Popular Mechanics, "Just a Few Driverless Cars on the Road Will Make Traffic Way Better", 22 May 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of predict

Latin praedictus, past participle of praedicere, from prae- pre- + dicere to say — more at diction

First Known Use: 1609

Synonym Discussion of predict

foretell, predict, forecast, prophesy, prognosticate mean to tell beforehand. foretell applies to the telling of the coming of a future event by any procedure or any source of information. seers foretold the calamity predict commonly implies inference from facts or accepted laws of nature. astronomers predicted an eclipse forecast adds the implication of anticipating eventualities and differs from predict in being usually concerned with probabilities rather than certainties. forecast snow prophesy connotes inspired or mystic knowledge of the future especially as the fulfilling of divine threats or promises. prophesying a new messiah prognosticate is used less often than the other words; it may suggest learned or skilled interpretation, but more often it is simply a colorful substitute for predict or prophesy . prognosticating the future

PREDICT Defined for English Language Learners

predict

play

verb

Definition of predict for English Language Learners

: to say that (something) will or might happen in the future

PREDICT Defined for Kids

predict

play

verb pre·dict \pri-ˈdikt\

Definition of predict for Students

predicted

;

predicting

: to say that (something) will or might happen in the future predict the weather

Word Root of predict

The Latin word dicere, meaning “to say” or “to speak,” and its form dictus give us the root dict. Words from the Latin dicere have something to do with saying or speaking. To dictate is to say words that are to be written down by someone else. To contradict is to say the opposite of what someone else has said. To predict is to say what will happen before it does.