foresee

verb

fore·​see fȯr-ˈsē How to pronounce foresee (audio)
foresaw fȯr-ˈsȯ How to pronounce foresee (audio) ; foreseen fȯr-ˈsēn How to pronounce foresee (audio) ; foreseeing

transitive verb

: to see (something, such as a development) beforehand
He could not have foreseen the consequences of his actions.
She foresaw the company's potential and invested early on.
foreseer noun
Choose the Right Synonym for foresee

foresee, foreknow, divine, anticipate 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

foreknow usually implies supernatural assistance, as through revelation.

if only we could foreknow our own destinies

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

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

anticipate implies taking action about or responding emotionally to something before it happens.

the waiter anticipated our every need

Examples of foresee in a Sentence

We couldn't have foreseen the consequences of our actions. He foresees a day when all war will cease. She foresaw the company's potential and invested early on.
Recent Examples on the Web For all the good that some people think the drug-free zones will do, Ruff foresees a negative outcome. Emily Davies, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2024 And 38 percent of mid-tier auction houses foresee the same. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2024 Beyond that, a multipurpose room with a kitchenette, plus a covered patio with benches overlooking the trailhead, could also serve celebratory family functions, with volunteers foreseeing interest for weddings, baby showers and other events ideal for a picturesque setting. Jim Riccioli, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024 But this loss was a tribulation no one could have foreseen. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2024 Sure enough, as Graves had foreseen, in August of last year the judge sided with the Latino plaintiffs. Marilyn W. Thompson, ProPublica, 28 Feb. 2024 The bill foresees legalizing possession by adults of up to 25 grams (nearly 1 ounce) of marijuana for recreational purposes and allowing individuals to grow up to three plants on their own. Geir Moulson, Quartz, 23 Feb. 2024 Even with prices edging down, Ivan Drury, director of insights at Edmunds, doesn't foresee sales of new vehicles rising dramatically this year. Tom Krisher, Quartz, 28 Feb. 2024 Agile leaders can foresee and interpret the trends and potential disruptions that may impact their organizations. Kathy Miller Perkins, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'foresee.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of foresee was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near foresee

Cite this Entry

“Foresee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foresee. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

foresee

verb
fore·​see fōr-ˈsē How to pronounce foresee (audio)
fȯr-
foresaw -ˈsȯ How to pronounce foresee (audio) ; foreseen -ˈsēn How to pronounce foresee (audio) ; foreseeing
: to see or realize beforehand : expect
foreseeable
-ˈsē-ə-bəl
adjective
foreseer
-ˈsē-ər
noun

Legal Definition

foresee

transitive verb
fore·​see
foresaw; foreseen; foreseeing
: to be aware of the reasonable possibility of (as an occurrence or development) beforehand

More from Merriam-Webster on foresee

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!