defy predictions

USAGE SUMMARY

"defy predictions" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe when an expected outcome or result does not happen. For example, "The stock prices defied predictions and went up despite the economic downturn."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

The volcano, meanwhile, continued to defy predictions.

The New York Times

Ukraine still has the ability to defy predictions.

The Economist

Cambodia's clothing factories continue to defy predictions that competition from China would kill them.

The Economist

ONE consistent feature of Ukraine's fluid politics is its ability to defy predictions.

The Economist

Equally, Hetherington realises that even this golden generation cannot continue to defy predictions of their demise indefinitely.

The Guardian - Sport

But with the Senate just hours away from pulling the trigger on the "nuclear option," the seven Republicans and seven Democrats managed to defy predictions.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Markets and corporate fortunes routinely defy prediction.

The New York Times - Tech

And when these rule the game, prices defy prediction.

The New York Times - Arts

In other words, English usage obeys a set of "laws", but these are complex in nature and often defy prediction.

The Guardian

It holds the answer to the question of whether we move closer to peace or inexorably towards war of a nature and dimension that defy prediction.

The Guardian - Opinion

By the same token, preconceived notions about how the government of a country may act can defy prediction.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "defy predictions" when you want to highlight a surprising outcome that goes against expert or common expectations. It adds emphasis to the unexpected nature of the result.

Common error

Avoid using "defy predictions" when describing minor deviations from expectations. It's best suited for situations where the outcome is significantly different from what was predicted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "defy predictions" functions as a verb phrase, typically acting as the predicate of a clause. It describes the action of something contradicting or going against what was expected or forecasted. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Academia

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "defy predictions" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to convey that an outcome has contradicted what was expected. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is both correct and usable in written English. Its frequent appearance across diverse domains—particularly news, business, and science—underscores its broad applicability and communicative power. When aiming for clarity and impact, remember that "defy predictions" is most effective when highlighting significant departures from established expectations. For situations requiring nuance, alternatives like "contradict forecasts" or "buck the trend" may offer more precise connotations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contradict forecasts

This alternative emphasizes the direct opposition to established forecasts.

buck the trend

This suggests acting against a prevailing pattern or movement.

fly in the face of expectations

This implies a bold and obvious contradiction of what was anticipated.

prove the projections wrong

This directly challenges the accuracy of existing projections.

invalidate anticipations

This suggests that previous anticipations were unfounded or incorrect.

run contrary to expectations

This indicates an outcome that is the opposite of what was expected.

beat the odds

This phrase highlights overcoming low probability or unfavorable circumstances.

confound expectations

This alternative emphasizes the surprise and bewilderment caused by the unexpected outcome.

belie forecasts

This subtly implies that the forecasts were misleading or inaccurate.

negate predictions

This emphasizes the complete invalidation of previous predictions.

FAQs

How can I use "defy predictions" in a sentence?

You can use "defy predictions" to describe situations where actual results differ significantly from what was expected. For example, "The company's profits "defy predictions" and continue to rise."

What's the difference between ""defy predictions"" and "meet expectations"?

"Defy predictions" means that the actual outcome is different from what was expected, while "meet expectations" signifies that the results aligned with the forecast.

What can I say instead of ""defy predictions""?

You can use alternatives like "contradict forecasts", "buck the trend", or "fly in the face of expectations" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "defies predictions"?

Yes, "defies predictions" is grammatically correct. The verb form changes to "defies" when used with a singular subject in the third person, such as "The data defies predictions."