foreseeable

[ fawr-see-uh-buhl ]

adjective

1. as far as can be seen:

   Our objective is to make travel around the city quick, easy, and trouble-free for the foreseeable future.

2. able to be known or seen in advance:

   A key finding was that the fire was foreseeable, and both the mine owner and the regulatory agencies could have prevented it from occurring.

Other Words From

• fore·see·a·bil·i·ty [fawr-see-, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], noun
• un·fore·see·a·ble adjective
• un·fore·see·a·ble·ness noun
• un·fore·see·a·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of foreseeable¹

foresee + -able

Example Sentences

This week’s staff reduction will bring JPL’s total workforce to about 5,500 employees, a number that managers expect will remain stable “for the foreseeable future,” Leshin told staff.

From Los Angeles Times

As his tour winds down, in the foreseeable future, McKagan plans on recording, and says that there’s “always Guns stuff around the corner, which I’m always excited for.”

From Los Angeles Times

"I do not think we will see the UK population start to decline for the foreseeable future, although the ageing of the population will become even more pronounced."

From BBC

Earlier this year, it was announced its fishing platform would be closed off for the foreseeable future following a number of incidents.

From BBC

Once the tour wound down, the Grateful Dead decided to stop performing for the foreseeable future.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• likely
• predicted
• proposed
• scheduled

More About Foreseeable

What does foreseeable mean?

If something is foreseeable, it means it can be predicted or identified in advance.

Foreseeable is the adjective form of the verb foresee, which means to see or know beforehand.

Foreseeable is often used in the phrase the foreseeable future, referring to the span of time in the near future about which reasonable assumptions can be made.

Example: Unfortunately, due to the road closure we’ll be taking the detour for the foreseeable future.

Where does foreseeable come from?

The first records of the word foreseeable come from the early 1800s. The verb foresee is recorded much earlier, before the 900s. Foresee comes from the Old English foresēon and contains the prefix fore-, meaning “before.” In foresee and foreseeable, see is used not in the literal sense of sight, but in the sense of insight or foresight.

Of course, no one can predict the future with certainty, and describing something as foreseeable doesn’t imply that someone’s looking into a crystal ball. When we talk about the events of the foreseeable future, we’re talking about the things that we can reasonably anticipate or predict will happen in the near future. Foreseeable is typically used in discussions about planning ahead. Or about how someone should have planned ahead but didn’t, as in All of these risks were foreseeable, so his excuse that they came as a complete surprise doesn’t hold up.

Things that cannot be reasonably foreseen can be described as unforeseeable.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms of foreseeable?

• foresee (verb)
• unforeseeable (adjective)
• foreseeability (noun)

What are some synonyms for foreseeable?

• predictable

What are some words that share a root or word element with foreseeable? 

 

• see
• forego

What are some words that often get used in discussing foreseeable?

 

• future
• predict
• foresight
• event
• plan
• anticipate
• expect
• certain
• likely

How is foreseeable used in real life?

Foreseeable is typically used in discussion of what we anticipate or know will happen. It’s most commonly used in the phrase the foreseeable future.

this is what we mean by the "surveillance" state. control of individuals in ways not foreseeable even a few years ago, at least in US. no imprisonment/ executions needed if you can render individuals helpless/ hopeless at long distance. https://t.co/5hW1APfqpA

— Joyce Carol Oates (@JoyceCarolOates) March 2, 2019

Assuming that something unforeseeable doesn't happen before my final grades are made official, I have an announcement…

Roy The Metalhead has graduated from college. 🤘🤘

— Roy The Metalhead \m/ (@RoyTheMetalhead) April 28, 2020

I see a lot of personal pick me up days in my foreseeable future — skin, hair, nails type day ✨💕

Don’t forget the tea drinking ☕️ and YouTube watching 📺

— aunty ugo (@ugonnapeace) April 23, 2020

 

 

Try using foreseeable!

Which word from the following does NOT describe a situation that is foreseeable?

A. expected
B. unknowable
C. predicted
D. anticipated