Predict

/prɪˈdɪkt/ verb

Definition

To predict is to say what you think will happen in the future, based on information, patterns, or guesses. It can be scientific, like weather forecasts, or more informal, like personal guesses.

Etymology

“Predict” comes from Latin *praedicere*, “to say beforehand,” from *prae-* (“before”) + *dicere* (“to say”). The idea is literally speaking something before it happens.

Kelly Says

Prediction is really about patterns: if you can spot a pattern, you can often guess what comes next. Modern AI, weather models, and even stock trading are all supercharged versions of the same basic human habit.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.