foresee

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of foresee are anticipate, divine, and foreknow. While all these words mean "to know beforehand," foresee implies nothing about how the knowledge is derived and may apply to ordinary reasoning and experience.

economists should have foreseen the recession

When could anticipate be used to replace foresee?

Although the words anticipate and foresee have much in common, 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?

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

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

When is it sensible to use foreknow instead of foresee?

The synonyms foreknow and foresee are sometimes interchangeable, but foreknow usually implies supernatural assistance, as through revelation.

if only we could foreknow our own destinies

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 foresee Our own Founding Fathers foresaw this danger. Carolyn McKinney, Boston Herald, 22 Sep. 2025 Global roadmaps foresee a huge role for H₂-DRI/EAF. Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2025 Thirteen members of the FOMC predicted 1 or 2 more rate cuts with only 4 members foreseeing no rate change. Paul Weinstein Jr, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 Malthus may not have foreseen the developments that fueled human growth over the past two centuries. Roy Scranton, JSTOR Daily, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for foresee
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foresee
anticipate
Verb
  • With more accurate, timely, and localized weather predictions, companies can better anticipate disruptions, allocate necessary resources, and mitigate risks to supply chains.
    Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
  • AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva told Newsweek that AccuWeather anticipates hurricane season to ramp up during its last two months, after a lull in activity over the summer.
    Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Foresee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foresee. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on foresee

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