foresee

foresee — verb

1. to realize or expect that a specific event or situation will occur before it act

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to realize or expect that a specific event or situation will occur before it actually happens, often based on reasoning rather than certainty

Example

Minho did not foresee the sudden drop in sales when he launched the new product.

foresee + noun phrase in negative context

Anjali had foreseen that the flight would be delayed, so she booked a later train.

foresee + that-clause for anticipating events

Common collocations
  • foresee a problem
  • foresee difficulties
  • foresee the consequences
  • foresee a change
  • foresee danger
  • foresee an outcome
Synonyms
  • predict

    more formal and often suggests stating a future outcome based on evidence or analysis rather than intuitive awareness

  • anticipate

    stronger on the expectation aspect and often implies preparing for the expected event, not just knowing about it

  • forecast

    more technical in tone; used for weather, economic trends, or data-based projections

Antonyms
  • overlook

    to fail to notice something, including its future impact or consequences

Grammar Patterns

foresee + noun phrase

foresee + that-clause

foresee + wh-clause

Usage Note

Frequently used with modal verbs (could, cannot, can) or in negative constructions to emphasize the surprising nature of an event. Also common with that-clauses and wh-clauses for more detailed projections.

Common Mistakes

I can foresee to have problems with the plan.
I can foresee problems with the plan.' or 'I can foresee that there will be problems with the plan.
foresee does not take a to-infinitive clause.
We haven't foreseen the situation.' (too vague)
We hadn't foreseen the technical difficulties.
the object should name a specific predicted outcome or event, not a vague situation.

Word family

  • foreseeable
    adjectiveB2
  • unforeseeable
    adjectiveC1
  • foresight
    nounC1
  • foreseen
    adjectiveB2
  • unforeseen
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Foresee suggests realizing what will happen through reasoning or intuition — you see the future mentally before it arrives. Predict is more formal and often data-driven: a meteorologist predicts rain, an economist predicts inflation. Anticipate puts more weight on expectation and readiness — you anticipate a busy Monday, which means you prepare for it. Forecast is the most technical of the four, used for projections based on models and statistics, especially in weather and economics. Example: A teacher may foresee that a lesson will flop; the weather service forecasts rain; a financial planner anticipates rising costs and adjusts the budget accordingly.

foresee ↗predict ↗anticipate ↗forecast ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • clearly foresee
  • easily foresee
  • reasonably foresee
  • dimly foresee
  • correctly foresee

Phrases

  • as far as one can foresee
  • foresee the possibility of
  • could not have foreseen
  • be difficult to foresee

Prepositions

  • foresee for the future

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Foresee comes from Old English foresēon — a combination of fore- (meaning 'before') and sēon (meaning 'to see'). The literal meaning 'to see before' has stayed consistent for over a thousand years, though today it refers to mental awareness of future events rather than literal sight.