Synonym Chooser

How is the word foreknow different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of foreknow are anticipate, divine, and foresee. While all these words mean "to know beforehand," foreknow usually implies supernatural assistance, as through revelation.

if only we could foreknow our own destinies

When might anticipate be a better fit than foreknow?

In some situations, the words anticipate and foreknow are roughly equivalent. However, anticipate implies taking action about or responding emotionally to something before it happens.

the waiter anticipated our every need

How are the words divine and foresee related as synonyms of foreknow?

Divine adds to foresee the suggestion of exceptional wisdom or discernment.

was able to divine Europe's rapid recovery from the war

In what contexts can foresee take the place of foreknow?

Although the words foresee and foreknow have much in common, foresee implies nothing about how the knowledge is derived and may apply to ordinary reasoning and experience.

economists should have foreseen the recession

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for foreknow
Verb
  • None of it was anticipated before the March 18 ruling.
    Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 20 May 2025
  • Fans will be eagerly anticipating their next album, which is on the way.
    Adam Davidson, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • Strand foresees Prime Video similarly educating NASCAR fans, though not every bell and whistle will be unveiled this weekend.
    Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 22 May 2025
  • Management foresees full-year EPS to be between $5.95 and $6.55, which is a slight decrease from $6.32 recorded the previous year, reflecting persistent competitive pressures.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
Verb
  • Ultimately, the company’s ambition is to build a computational model that captures the behaviours of every molecule inside a living cell and to predict how each of these molecules will change with health, disease or exposure to drugs.
    David Prosser, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
  • Scientists predict that within the next 15 years this ice cap will disappear in summer for the first time in millennia, accelerating global warming.
    Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 May 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Foreknow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foreknow. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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