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

Most analysts predict that terrorist attacks will continue and perhaps increase in the near term.

— joby warrick, Washington Post, "A battered ISIS grows ever more dependent on ‘lone wolves,’ simple plans," 20 July 2017
Experts still predict that testing of gene drive in the field is still years away.

— kelly servick, Science | AAAS, "How will we keep controversial gene drive technology in check?," 19 July 2017
Federal officials predict the Medicare Advantage option will grow further as massive numbers of baby boomers retire in coming years.

— fred schulte, Kaiser Health News, "Fraud And Billing Mistakes Cost Medicare — And Taxpayers — Tens Of Billions Last Year," 19 July 2017
Analysts had predicted $3.11, according to the average of estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

— julie johnsson, star-telegram, "Increased F-35 production driving Lockheed profits higher," 18 July 2017
Some predict the return of a low-level insurgency much as before IS swept control in June 2014.

— The Economist, "Islamic State nears its end," 5 July 2017
Another catalyst for making this change was a book by Paul Ehrlich called The Population Bomb [which in 1968 predicted global destruction due to human actions].

— heather wood rudulph, Cosmopolitan, "Get That Life: How I Became a Photographer for National Geographic," 3 July 2017
The Congressional Budget Office predicted that by 2026 two-thirds of the 15 million newly uninsured Americans would be that way because of cuts in the Medicaid program.

— leigh cuen, Teen Vogue, "Here Are The Lies Told By Donald Trump and His Administration About Healthcare," 1 July 2017
The National Weather Service is predicting highs in the upper-90s — 97 to 99 — all week.

— katy moeller, idahostatesman, "Heat wave hitting Boise will bring highs pushing 100 for a week," 1 July 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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1609

See Words from the same year

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.