Thesaurus results for FORESEE

Q: How is the word 'foresee' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of foresee are anticipate , divine , and foreknow . While all these words mean "to know beforehand," foresee implies nothing about how the knowledge is derived and may apply to ordinary reasoning and experience. // economists should have foreseen the recession

Q: When could 'anticipate' be used to replace 'foresee'?

Although the words anticipate and foresee have much in common, anticipate implies taking action about or responding emotionally to something before it happens. // the waiter anticipated our every need

Q: How are the words 'divine' and 'foresee' related?

Divine adds to foresee the suggestion of exceptional wisdom or discernment. // was able to divine Europe's rapid recovery from the war

Q: When is it sensible to use 'foreknow' instead of 'foresee'?

The synonyms foreknow and foresee are sometimes interchangeable, but foreknow usually implies supernatural assistance, as through revelation. // if only we could foreknow our own destinies

foresee

verb

fȯr-ˈsē

Definition of foresee

as in to anticipate

to realize or know about beforehand a freak accident that no one could possibly have foreseen

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How is the word foresee different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of foresee are anticipate, divine, and foreknow. While all these words mean "to know beforehand," foresee implies nothing about how the knowledge is derived and may apply to ordinary reasoning and experience.

economists should have foreseen the recession

When could anticipate be used to replace foresee?

Although the words anticipate and foresee have much in common, anticipate implies taking action about or responding emotionally to something before it happens.

the waiter anticipated our every need

How are the words divine and foresee related?

Divine adds to foresee the suggestion of exceptional wisdom or discernment.

was able to divine Europe's rapid recovery from the war

When is it sensible to use foreknow instead of foresee?

The synonyms foreknow and foresee are sometimes interchangeable, but foreknow usually implies supernatural assistance, as through revelation.

if only we could foreknow our own destinies

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of foresee Last month, Semafor reported that Amazon’s sustainability chief foresees a multi-year uptick in the company’s carbon footprint. — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2026 To be fair, a number of the calamities should have been foreseen, probably. — Brian Grubb, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026 Nate Davis does the honors again, foreseeing the winners of all 272 regular-season games to propose win-loss records for all 32 teams. — Jim Reineking, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026 The killing was not foreseen by Xavier’s relatives and its motivation was nebulous, lead prosecutor Ashlea Deener suggested in the state’s closing argument. — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for foresee

Recent Examples of Synonyms for foresee

anticipate

Verb

The pro-presidential Adilet party is widely predicted to win an overwhelming majority, with several smaller parties loyal to Tokayev also anticipated to enter parliament.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Bauer said the city does not anticipate any salt shortages during the 2026-27 season.

— Steve Zalusky, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of anticipate

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foresaw

foresee

foreseeable

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“Foresee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foresee. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of foresee

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