foresee

[ fawr-see ]

verb (used with object)

, fore·saw, fore·seen, fore·see·ing.

1. to have prescience of; to know in advance; foreknow.

   Synonyms: discern, divine

2. to see beforehand.

verb (used without object)

, fore·saw, fore·seen, fore·see·ing.

1. to exercise foresight.

foresee

/ fɔːˈsiː /

verb

1. tr; may take a clause as object to see or know beforehand

   he did not foresee that

Derived Forms

• foreˈseeable, adjective
• foreˈseer, noun

Other Words From

• fore·see·a·ble adjective
• fore·se·er noun
• un·fore·see·ing adjective
• un·fore·seen adjective
• well-fore·seen adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of foresee¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English foresēon. See fore-, see ¹

Synonym Study

See predict.

Example Sentences

"You can never foresee something like that," he said.

From BBC

Sir John faced fierce criticism in the House of Commons for failing to foresee the attack and leaving the islands vulnerable to invasion.

From BBC

It also stated: "Neither of the schools could possibly have foreseen nor did they foresee that Jenkinson posed any threat to Brianna or any other child".

From BBC

Mr Petropoulos added he did not foresee getting aid into the north of Gaza becoming easier as a result of Sinwar's death.

From BBC

He warned that the conflict could spill over into a war "no-one can control and with consequences that none of us can foresee".

From BBC

Related Words

• discern
• envisage
• expect
• forecast
• foretell
• perceive
• presage