foreknow 1 of 2

Definition of foreknownext

foreknowledge

2 of 2

noun

as in foresight
the special ability to see or know about events before they actually occur a suspenseful story about a man who has a frightening foreknowledge of disasters

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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.
Recent Examples of foreknow
Noun
That is one future no amount of foreknowledge or planning can avoid. Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026 The younger daughter had arrived with foreknowledge of the role her older sister had already claimed. Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026 Days later, Carlson began releasing The 9/11 Files, a five-part video series that suggests Israel had foreknowledge of the al-Qaeda attacks but withheld the information from the United States. Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026 But even with that foreknowledge, the moment hits us like a truck full of dynamite, aided immensely by Thurman’s explosive shock at the sight of her daughter. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025 The chat reportedly included discussions that could indicate ideological motivations, and possibly even encouragement or foreknowledge of the attack. Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 16 Sep. 2025 What was the level of foreknowledge about this attack? Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foreknow
Verb
  • The one-two punch of heat and humidity is anticipated to reach Eastern states by midweek, AccuWeather said, possibly lingering through the Independence Day weekend.
    Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 29 June 2026
  • Even if the architects of my building didn’t anticipate global warming, their handiwork, with some minor accommodations, has made the past week bearable.
    Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
Verb
  • Alas, the actor did not foresee his countrymen losing to Morocco 1-0 on June 19, but took the L in stride.
    Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026
  • The latter, on a break that stretched tired German legs, captured the story of a footballing mismatch few had foreseen.
    The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • Analyst Jack Lu and his team at the bank predict sodium-ion batteries will account for 20% of total battery deployment market share by 2030 and 37% in 2035.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 28 June 2026
  • In some cases, like in Elk River, local utility companies are predicting positive impacts on utility rates thanks to data centers paying larger bills for services.
    Conor Wight, CBS News, 27 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Foreknow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foreknow. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.

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