foresee

USAGE SUMMARY

'foresee' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about being able to predict or see something in the future. For example, "I cannot foresee what the future may bring."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Concrete predictions are a fool's game, but very few here foresee a flood of emigrants – or believe benefit scroungers exist in statistically meaningful numbers.

The Guardian

Something similar has happened with Sonos, whose software for controlling its music players has had a radical remake – darker, blockier – on mobile, but not (yet) on the desktop, though you can foresee the latter app suffering a gravitational attraction towards the more-used app.

The Guardian - Tech

He poured scorn on the prospect of a coalition with the Liberal Democrats, saying he did not foresee a hung parliament after the election and that he was relishing the prospect of Labour defeating Nick Clegg.

The Guardian

"Could we foresee him being as effective as he has been?

The Guardian - Sport

That makes it difficult to foresee how it will all end".

The Guardian - Tech

If Peter Tatchell defies his doctors' advice, and electoral norms, and makes it to parliament at the next election, he can foresee trouble, pretty much straight away – from himself.

The Guardian

It's not just the complete failure to foresee this crisis.

The New York Times

Because systems designers cannot foresee every set of circumstances, there must also be an off-switch.

The Economist

Second, we need to streamline the development phase, in part by ending earlier the development of drugs which do not offer the prospect of being truly distinctive.In addition, I foresee more innovative partnerships emerging in R&D.

The Economist

The projections each side has produced for Greece's primary budget surpluses (ie, before interest payments) do not seem that far apart: both foresee Greece running a surplus of 3.5% of GDP from 2018 onwards, which would mean a reasonable decline in Greece's debt-to-GDP ratio over time if it can sustain economic growth.

The Economist

The only certainty is that the business of tomorrow will not look much like the one the pundits of today foresee.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "foresee" to indicate a reasoned expectation based on available information, rather than mere speculation.

Common error

Avoid using "foresee" when you mean to express a desire or wish. "Foresee" implies a degree of certainty based on evidence, while "hope" expresses a desire without necessarily having concrete reasons.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "foresee" is that of a transitive verb. It requires an object, indicating what is being anticipated or predicted. As Ludwig AI confirms, this verb is commonly used to express the ability to anticipate future events based on present knowledge or understanding.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "foresee" is a versatile verb used to express anticipation or prediction based on understanding or evidence. As Ludwig AI points out, its grammatical status is correct, and it appears frequently across diverse contexts like News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science. While alternatives such as ""anticipate"" or "predict" may be suitable substitutes depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey, be mindful of the subtle differences in meaning. Remember that using "foresee" implies a reasoned expectation, not just a mere hope or wish.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

anticipate

Focuses on acting in advance of something, often to prevent it.

predict

Suggests a more formal or calculated estimation of a future event.

envisage

Implies a mental picture or visualization of a future possibility.

forecast

Commonly used in contexts related to weather or economic trends.

foretell

Often used in a more archaic or prophetic sense.

foreknow

Indicates prior knowledge of something that will happen.

project

Involves extending current trends or data into the future.

expect

Expresses a belief that something will occur.

imagine

Suggests creating a mental image of the future.

envision

Similar to envisage, focusing on visualizing future outcomes.

FAQs

How to use "foresee" in a sentence?

"Foresee" is used to indicate the ability to predict or anticipate something in the future. For example, "Experts "anticipate" a rise in interest rates next quarter".

What can I say instead of "foresee"?

You can use alternatives like ""anticipate"", "predict", or "envisage" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "foresee" or "predict"?

Both "foresee" and "predict" are correct, but "foresee" implies a more intuitive understanding, while "predict" suggests a more calculated assessment. They are highly interchangeable but the best choice depends on the context of the situation.

What's the difference between "foresee" and "expect"?

"Foresee" suggests a more proactive understanding of future events, while "expect" is a more passive anticipation. You expect something to happen, but you "foresee" trends based on analysis.