Definition of foreknownext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word foreknow different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of foreknow are anticipate, divine, and foresee. While all these words mean "to know beforehand," foreknow usually implies supernatural assistance, as through revelation.

if only we could foreknow our own destinies

When might anticipate be a better fit than foreknow?

In some situations, the words anticipate and foreknow are roughly equivalent. However, anticipate implies taking action about or responding emotionally to something before it happens.

the waiter anticipated our every need

How are the words divine and foresee related as synonyms of foreknow?

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

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

In what contexts can foresee take the place of foreknow?

Although the words foresee and foreknow have much in common, foresee implies nothing about how the knowledge is derived and may apply to ordinary reasoning and experience.

economists should have foreseen the recession

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for foreknow
Verb
  • Some fans will have purchased alternative plane tickets and booked extra hotel nights, anticipating a change that never came.
    Nick Miller, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro is anticipated to be more expensive, potentially by $200, driven by rising memory and storage costs.
    Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • The survey is an indicator of companies foreseeing good conditions minus those feeling pessimistic.
    ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
  • To say legislators should have foreseen this result is shooting fish.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Susan Del Percio, a New York GOP strategist, predicted the dueling programs would excite the different constituencies of the two leaders.
    Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 3 July 2026
  • But predicting how things will change decades from now is a more daunting task than embracing a gauzy promise.
    Juliet Eilperin, Washington Post, 3 July 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Foreknow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foreknow. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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