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

• predict
• read

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

Or how, in the U.S., my mother sought refuge in Dami Mission, a doomsday cult that prophesied a mass rapture to heaven. —Esther Lin, Time, 12 June 2025

Wright’s childhood nursery was decorated with engravings of English cathedrals In his autobiography, Wright discusses how his mother prophesied his future as an architect, decorating his nursery with buildings to encourage this development. —Carrie Hojnicki, Architectural Digest, 21 May 2025

Sam Altman, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai, and other tech barons like to prophesy a future in which AI cures cancer and makes everyone prosperous. —Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025

So Far The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time But nothing sums up their experience of this past year quite like Metamorphosis’ title track, a song where the band practically prophesied the next chapter of their career. —Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for prophesy

• prophecy

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