prophesy

verb

proph·​e·​sy ˈprä-fə-ˌsī 

prophesied; prophesying

transitive verb

1

: to utter by or as if by divine inspiration

2

: to predict with assurance or on the basis of mystic knowledge

3

: prefigure

intransitive verb

1

: to speak as if divinely inspired

2

: to give instruction in religious matters : preach

3

: to make a prediction

prophesier

ˈprä-fə-ˌsī(-ə)r 

noun

Synonyms

• augur
• call
• forecast
• foretell
• predict
• presage
• prognosticate
• read
• vaticinate

Choose the Right Synonym for prophesy

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

Examples of prophesy in a Sentence

The book claims that modern events were prophesied in ancient times.

holy men were prophesying the coming of a new messiah

Recent Examples on the Web

That footage of her channeling, chanting, lecturing, singing, and prophesying composed the bulk of her ministry. —Emily Harnett, Harper's Magazine, 26 Apr. 2024

German newspapers were full of postulations about their country’s economic, technological, and military advances, prophesying a future when Germany would overtake everyone else. —Odd Arne Westad, Foreign Affairs, 13 June 2024

According to Christian eschatology, the Antichrist refers to a person or people prophesied in the bible to oppose Christ and substitute themselves in Christ’s place before the second coming. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 23 Feb. 2024

Zuma, in turn, prophesied that Malema would one day become president. —Erin Conway-Smith, Foreign Affairs, 7 May 2019

Word History

Etymology

Middle English prophecien, prophesien, borrowed from Middle French prophecier, verbal derivative of phophecie, prophesie prophecy

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

prophesy

verb

proph·​e·​sy ˈpräf-ə-ˌsī 

prophesied; prophesying

1

: to speak or write like a prophet

2

: foretell, predict

prophesier

-ˌsī(-ə)r 

noun