foretelling

USAGE SUMMARY

'foretelling' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an verb that means to predict something, especially something bad or unfortunate, that is going to happen in the future. Example sentence: He had a feeling of foretelling, warning him to leave the situation immediately.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But the prize goes to Adrian Wooldridge for foretelling a "tech-lash", a peasants' revolt against the sovereigns of cyberspace.

The Economist

A SUPERSTITIOUS man, Sri Lanka's president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, once had a popular astrologer arrested for foretelling his downfall.

The Economist

The only proposals Mr Matheny will not consider are those designed to forecast conflict in America itself (the CIA is not supposed to spy on people in the United States), and those that rely on monitoring particular individuals, whether in America or elsewhere.Guerrillas in the midstRather than just foretelling the future, however, the best technology should concentrate on shaping it.

The Economist

If the council refuses to back down, says Reza Khatami, one of parliament's two deputy speakers (and the president's younger brother), the agitation will grow and will "take new forms".To the regime's external enemies, these words are a portent of political implosion, perhaps, foretelling the fatal weakening of the Islamic Republic.

The Economist

"ALL our pomp of yesterday/Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!" sang Rudyard Kipling, foretelling the end of the empire he loved.

The Economist

There was no way of foretelling it then, but Omaha had run his last race in the United States.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The diviner, sometimes compared with the prophet, performs the priestly art of foretelling.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Despite having infused new life into the struggling brand and increased profitability Pilati had turned an annual loss of some $100 million in 2004 into a profit of about $15 million in 2011 he had long been the subject of rumours foretelling his imminent forced departure.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The 28-year-old trainee accountant is not about to become seared across the national sporting psyche, even though Matthew Pinsent proclaimed him as Ed 'the Cleaver' McKeever early yesterday when foretelling that he would take the field apart.

Independent

As the bullet strikes Dhoorre in the forehead, YoungThing is certain that he hears a seabird cawing, only he cannot interpret what it is saying, or whether it is foretelling his own imminent death.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

— Thomas Sprat, "The History of the Royal Society" (1667) FORETELLING THE FUTURE In the year 1456... a Comet was seen passing Retrograde between the Earth and the sun.... Hence I dare venture to foretell, that it will return again in the year 1758.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "foretelling" when you want to add a slightly formal or archaic tone to your writing, suggesting a sense of destiny or fate.

Common error

Avoid using "foretelling" when you mean "retelling". "Foretelling" means predicting the future, while "retelling" means narrating something again.

Linguistic Context

Foretelling functions as a verb, specifically a present participle or gerund, indicating an ongoing action of predicting future events. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples, where it describes acts of prophecy, anticipation, or indication of future occurrences.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Encyclopedias

21%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

4%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "foretelling" is a grammatically sound verb form commonly used to denote the act of predicting future events. Ludwig AI identifies its frequency as 'common', and its usage is prevalent in News & Media, Encyclopedias and Scientific contexts. While considered acceptable, it is more formal than simple predicting. It's crucial to distinguish it from similar-sounding words like "retelling". When choosing alternatives, consider "predicting", "forecasting" or "prophesying" depending on the intended nuance. Remember, while it's a proper word, context and desired tone should guide its use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

predicting

This alternative is a more direct and common synonym, lacking the slightly archaic or formal tone of "foretelling".

predicting the future

This alternative is a more explicit and less concise way of saying "foretelling".

forecasting

This alternative suggests a more systematic and data-driven approach to predicting, often used in weather or economic contexts.

portending

This alternative implies indicating something, usually ominous, is about to happen.

foreshadowing

This alternative implies giving a hint or suggestion of something to come.

prophesying

This alternative implies a divine or mystical element to the prediction, often associated with religious or spiritual contexts.

auguring

This alternative suggests predicting the future from omens or signs.

anticipating

This alternative focuses on expecting something to happen, often based on prior knowledge or experience.

seeing ahead

This alternative phrase presents a more figurative and less formal perspective, signifying the ability to perceive or anticipate upcoming events.

divining

This alternative implies discovering something future or unknown through intuition or supernatural means.

FAQs

How can I use "foretelling" in a sentence?

"Foretelling" can be used to describe the act of predicting the future. For example, "The ancient prophecies were "foretelling" a time of great change."

What are some alternatives to "foretelling"?

Alternatives to "foretelling" include "predicting", "forecasting", and "prophesying", depending on the specific context.

Is "foretelling" a formal word?

Yes, "foretelling" can be considered a slightly more formal or literary term than simply "predicting". It often carries a sense of destiny or ancient wisdom.

What is the difference between "foretelling" and "forecasting"?

"Foretelling" often implies a more general or intuitive prediction, while "forecasting" usually involves a systematic and data-driven analysis to predict future events.