would not envisage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would not envisage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a lack of ability to imagine or foresee a particular situation or outcome. Example: "In this scenario, I would not envisage a successful resolution without further negotiation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Asked whether the Government remained open to amending the legislation, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "I would not envisage significant changes to the Health Bill.

Independent

"If the mechanism in the bill reduces the scale of the problem by 70% or more then we would not envisage it being necessary to introduce technical measures".

The Guardian

But he said his personal view was that immigrants would only bring their dependants after a period of time and after that he would not envisage their children being allowed to go straight into state schools.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

They probably wouldn't envisage a bomb-disposal expert with a first-class university degree.

The Times

"She is aware, as everybody is, that everything is under review – but I do think that that particular scheme with Australia works very well, so I wouldn't envisage a change".

The Guardian

"You wouldn't envisage wholesale changes, but there's going to be some competition and that's the way we want it".

BBC

This was just "formalising" the change, he said, adding that he did not envisage it would cause any problems for the shed's survival.

The Guardian

The complainants could not envisage why lesbians would ever want autonomous space.

The Guardian - Opinion

In response to a question from the Guardian in October 2009, the lord chief justice said he could not envisage that it would be "constitutionally proper, for a court to make an order which might prevent or hinder or limit discussion of any topic in parliament".

The Guardian - Opinion

Although the former head of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove has argued recently that leaving the EU may matter less in security terms than Sir Keir or Mr Anderson believe, even he does not envisage that there would be any gain from leaving the jurisdiction of the European court of justice or from putting the benefits of established security and intelligence cooperation in jeopardy.

The Guardian - Opinion

When I set off to travel the world 8 months earlier, I did not envisage that my father would come back into my life in this way.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would not envisage" to express a considered lack of expectation, particularly when discussing plans, policies, or future outcomes. It suggests a degree of certainty without ruling out all possibilities.

Common error

While "envisage" is a perfectly valid word, it can sound overly formal in casual conversations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "expect" or "imagine" to keep your language natural in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would not envisage" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing a lack of expectation or anticipation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates that the speaker or writer does not foresee a particular situation or outcome.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "would not envisage" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express a lack of expectation or anticipation. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is appropriate for expressing a considered opinion about future outcomes. While not extremely common, it's primarily found in news and media sources, lending itself to a neutral or slightly formal register. When seeking alternatives, consider options like "cannot foresee" or "do not expect" depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot foresee

Uses a more direct verb ("foresee") instead of "envisage", implying a stronger inability to predict.

do not foresee

Slightly more formal than "do not anticipate", retaining a similar meaning.

do not anticipate

Replaces "envisage" with "anticipate", suggesting a lack of expectation about a future event.

would not anticipate

Similar to "do not anticipate" but uses "would" to express a conditional or hypothetical lack of expectation.

do not expect

A simpler and more common alternative, focusing on a lack of expectation.

cannot imagine

Emphasizes the inability to form a mental picture of something.

fail to envision

Highlights a failure to form a clear idea or mental image.

would not predict

Focuses on the inability to make a prediction about the future.

cannot conceive of

Implies a fundamental inability to understand or imagine something.

see no prospect of

Shifts the focus to the absence of a positive outlook or potential for something.

FAQs

How can I use "would not envisage" in a sentence?

You can use "would not envisage" to express that you don't expect or anticipate something to happen. For example: "I "would not envisage" any problems with the new system".

What can I say instead of "would not envisage"?

You can use alternatives like "do not expect", "cannot foresee", or "do not anticipate" depending on the specific context.

Is it more formal to say "would not envisage" or "do not expect"?

"Would not envisage" is generally considered more formal than "do not expect". "Do not expect" is suitable for most situations, while "would not envisage" might be preferred in formal writing or professional settings.

Can "would not envisage" be used in the past tense?

Yes, the past tense form would be "would not have envisaged". For example: "I "would not have envisaged" such a positive outcome when we started the project".