foresee

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ˌfɔˈːsiː/ 🇺🇸 /fɔˈrsiː/

📖 Definitions

  1. verb
    To be aware of or predict something before it happens; to anticipate or see in advance.; To have a mental image or vision of a future event; to envisage or imagine what is to come.; To provide for or plan ahead in anticipation of future needs or circumstances.; To perceive or discern something beforehand through intuition, insight, or supernatural means; to prophesy.

🔗 Details

Word forms

3rd sing.: foresees Past: foresaw Past part.: foreseen Pres part.: foreseeing

Collocations

foresee problemsforesee difficultiesforesee the consequencesforesee the futureforesee the outcomehard to foresee

Derivatives

foreseeableforeseenforesightforeseerunforeseenunforeseeable

Synonyms

predictanticipateforetellenvisageenvisionforeknow

Commonly confused

predict
EN: 'Predict' is more general and can be based on evidence or data; 'foresee' implies intuitive or mental perception of what will happen.
foreseen
EN: 'Foreseen' is the past participle of 'foresee', not a separate word; it is often used adjectivally (e.g., 'unforeseen circumstances').

Spelling tips

EN: The past tense is 'foresaw' (not 'foreseed') and the past participle is 'foreseen' (not 'foreseed'), following the irregular pattern of 'see → saw → seen'.

💬 Examples

  1. No one could have foreseen the consequences of the new policy.

  2. She foresaw a bright future for her children if they worked hard.

  3. A wise leader foresees potential challenges and prepares accordingly.

  4. The oracle was said to foresee the fall of the empire.