Thesaurus results for FORESEE

Q: How is the word 'foresee' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of foresee are anticipate , divine , and foreknow . While all these words 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

Q: When could 'anticipate' be used to replace 'foresee'?

Although the words anticipate and foresee have much in common, anticipate implies taking action about or responding emotionally to something before it happens. // the waiter anticipated our every need

Q: How are the words 'divine' and 'foresee' related?

Divine adds to foresee the suggestion of exceptional wisdom or discernment. // was able to divine Europe's rapid recovery from the war

Q: When is it sensible to use 'foreknow' instead of 'foresee'?

The synonyms foreknow and foresee are sometimes interchangeable, but foreknow usually implies supernatural assistance, as through revelation. // if only we could foreknow our own destinies

foresee

verb

fȯr-ˈsē

Definition of foresee next

as in to anticipate

to realize or know about beforehand a freak accident that no one could possibly have foreseen

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Some common synonyms of foresee are anticipate, divine, and foreknow. While all these words 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

When could anticipate be used to replace foresee?

Although the words anticipate and foresee have much in common, 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?

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

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

When is it sensible to use foreknow instead of foresee?

The synonyms foreknow and foresee are sometimes interchangeable, but foreknow usually implies supernatural assistance, as through revelation.

if only we could foreknow our own destinies

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of foresee Trump did not foresee the California Democratic voters matching Texas with the elimination of five House Republican seats and culminating last Tuesday with Virginia voters removing four Republican seats for four Democratic seats. —

Nick Akerman, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2026 The storms are foreseen to bring wind gusts of up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail (1 inch). —

Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2026 But their twin ascents could not have been foreseen based on fair-to-middlin’ careers with the Bay Area schools. —

Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026 Did no one foresee the current scenario? —

Leonardo Padura, Time, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for foresee

Recent Examples of Synonyms for foresee

anticipate

Verb

Fans at Easton Stadium anticipated another grand slam, holding up their cellphones hoping to catch some magic.

— Jordan Puente, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
The titles that are less eagerly anticipated can wait another day.

— Adeel Hassan, New York Times, 18 May 2026

Definition of anticipate

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foresaw

foresee

foreseeable

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“Foresee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foresee. Accessed 22 May. 2026.

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Synonyms of foresee

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