predict

predict — verb

1. to state in advance what you think will happen later, usually from facts, past e

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to state in advance what you think will happen later, usually from facts, past experience, or signs

Example

Weather experts predict heavy rain across southern Taiwan tonight.

predict + weather result

Mina predicted that the baby would wake before dawn.

predict + that-clause

Common collocations
  • predict rain
  • predict the outcome
  • predict a rise
  • predict trouble ahead
  • hard to predict
Synonyms
  • forecast

    often used for weather, business, or other expert estimates based on data

  • foresee

    slightly more formal and often suggests seeing a future problem or result early

  • expect

    focuses on what seems likely, not always on saying it publicly

  • guess

    more informal and can be based on much less evidence

Grammar Patterns

predict + noun

predict + that-clause

predict + question word-clause

be predicted to + verb

Usage Note

Common with a noun object, a that-clause, or a question word clause, and very often used in the passive before a to-infinitive, as in 'is predicted to rise'. Subject can also be a sign or pattern when the evidence itself points to a future result.

Common Mistakes

Experts predicted about a storm.
Experts predicted a storm.
'predict' does not take 'about' before the thing you expect to happen.
I predict him to win the race.
I predict that he will win the race.
In active clauses, English usually uses a clause here, not 'person + to-infinitive'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Predict' means saying what you think will happen before it happens, usually because you have some facts, experience, or signs. 'Forecast' is close, but it sounds more technical and is common for weather, sales, or the economy. 'Foresee' is slightly more formal and often suggests seeing a future problem or result early. 'Expect' is more personal: it means you think something is likely, but you may not be making a clear public prediction. 'Guess' is the weakest in evidence and can be just a quick idea. Compare: a scientist predicts higher temperatures, a bank forecasts slower growth, a manager foresees trouble, a parent expects delays, and a child guesses who will win.

predict ↗forecast ↗foresee ↗expect ↗guess ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • the future
  • the outcome
  • the result
  • a change
  • rain

Adverbs

Phrases

  • be predicted to + verb
  • predict that + clause
  • difficult to predict

Etymology

LatinEnglish

'Predict' was borrowed into English from Latin 'praedicere', which meant 'say beforehand'. The Latin verb joins 'prae-' meaning 'before' with 'dicere' meaning 'say'. That older idea still matches the modern use: when you predict something, you say it before it happens.