predict

UK: /prɪˈdɪkt/ US: /prɪˈdɪkt/ ,(pri dikt′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pre•dict /prɪˈdɪkt/   v. 

1. to declare in advance;
   foretell: [~ + object]
   He predicted the defeat months before the election.
   [~ + (that) clause]
   She predicted that you would be elected.

pre•dic•tor, n. 

[countable] That state is a good predictor of what will happen in the rest of the country.

See -dict-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pre•dict  (pri dikt′), v.t. 

1. to declare or tell in advance;
   prophesy;
   foretell:
   to predict the weather; to predict the fall of a civilization.

v.i. 

2. to foretell the future;
   make a prediction.

• Latin praedictus, past participle of praedīcere to foretell, equivalent. to prae- pre- + dic-, variant stem of dīcere to say + -tus past participle suffix; see dictum
• 1540–50

pre•dict′a•ble, adj. 
pre•dict′a•bil′i•ty, n. 
pre•dict′a•bly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1, 2. presage, divine, augur, project, prognosticate, portend.
  Predict, prophesy, foresee, forecast mean to know or tell (usually correctly) beforehand what will happen. To predict is usually to foretell with precision of calculation, knowledge, or shrewd inference from facts or experience:
  The astronomers can predict an eclipse;
  
  it may, however, be used without the implication of underlying knowledge or expertise:
  I predict she'll be a success at the party.
  Prophesy usually means to predict future events by the aid of divine or supernatural inspiration:
  Merlin prophesied the two knights would meet in conflict;
  
  this verb, too, may be used in a more general, less specific sense. I prophesy he'll be back in the old job. To foresee refers specifically not to the uttering of predictions but to the mental act of seeing ahead; there is often (but not always) a practical implication of preparing for what will happen:
  He was clever enough to foresee this shortage of materials.
  Forecast has much the same meaning as predict;
  it is used today particularly of the weather and other phenomena that cannot easily be accurately predicted:
  Rain and snow are forecast for tonight. Economists forecast a rise in family income.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

predict / prɪˈdɪkt/ verb

1. (tr; may take a clause as object) to state or make a declaration about in advance, esp on a reasoned basis; foretell

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin praedīcere to mention beforehand, from prae before + dīcere to say

preˈdictable adjective

preˌdictaˈbility, preˈdictableness noun

preˈdictably adverb