predictable
adjective
pre·dict·able
pri-ˈdik-tə-bəl 
1
: capable of being predicted : able to be known, seen, or declared in advance
a predictable reaction/outcome
a very predictable plot
changes occurring at a steady and predictable rate
2
: behaving in a way that is expected
I knew he would say that. He's so predictable.
predictability
noun
By comparing the projections, meteorologists can get a measure of the weather's predictability: The less agreement among the forecasts, the less predictable the weather.
—
Richard Monastersky
Richard Monastersky
Examples of predictable in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At some point, the money will stop flying around, and, as has happened elsewhere in the media, a few winners will emerge, and the abundant variety of this era will give way to something more polished and, probably, predictable.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2024
And, to say the least, Musk is hardly a predictable executive.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2024
Tight production quotas produce predictable medication access issues that are disproportionately discriminating against disadvantaged people.
—Patrick Skerrett, STAT, 20 Apr. 2024
Even the musical arc of the show slumps into a routine, with a predictable build toward each big solo climax.
—Maya Phillips, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
The state controlled the economy, and private enterprise was largely absent, so the range of consumer goods narrowed to a few predictable brands.
—Alice Popovici, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Apr. 2024
Computers tend to work in a predictable way, following determined patterns.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Apr. 2024
What to avoid this summer American travelers are becoming more predictable in their summer vacation choices, said John Lovell, president of Travel Leaders Group.
—Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
If everything’s the same and everything is talking together in a predictable way, there’s not much to glean.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2024
Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2024
And, to say the least, Musk is hardly a predictable executive.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2024
Tight production quotas produce predictable medication access issues that are disproportionately discriminating against disadvantaged people.
—Patrick Skerrett, STAT, 20 Apr. 2024
Even the musical arc of the show slumps into a routine, with a predictable build toward each big solo climax.
—Maya Phillips, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
The state controlled the economy, and private enterprise was largely absent, so the range of consumer goods narrowed to a few predictable brands.
—Alice Popovici, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Apr. 2024
Computers tend to work in a predictable way, following determined patterns.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Apr. 2024
What to avoid this summer American travelers are becoming more predictable in their summer vacation choices, said John Lovell, president of Travel Leaders Group.
—Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
If everything’s the same and everything is talking together in a predictable way, there’s not much to glean.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'predictable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near predictable
Cite this Entry
“Predictable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predictable. Accessed 7 May. 2024.
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