Dictionary
foresee
verb fore·see \fȯr-ˈsē\
: to see or become aware of (something that has not yet happened)
fore·saw\-ˈsȯ\fore·seen\-ˈsēn\fore·see·ing
Full Definition of FORESEE
transitive verb
: to see (as a development) beforehand
— fore·seer \fȯr-ˈsē-ər, -ˈsir\ noun
See foresee defined for English-language learners
See foresee defined for kids
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First Known Use of FORESEE
before 12th century
Related to FORESEE
- Synonyms
- anticipate, divine, forefeel, foreknow, prevision
Synonym Discussion of 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>.
Rhymes with FORESEE
ackee, Agee, agley, aiguille, agree, Albee, alee, ani, at sea, Attlee, Bacchae, bailee, Bangui, banshee, bargee, bawbee, bee tree, Belgae, big tree, bohea, bootee, bougie, break free, buckshee, burgee, Bt, callee, Capri, carefree, CB, CD, Chablis, Chaldee, chickpea, chili, church key, confit, cowpea, croquis, curie, dead-tree, debris, decree, deep-sea, degree, Denis, donee, DP, draftee, drawee, Dundee, emcee, ennui, esprit, etui, farci, feoffee, flame tree, for free, fringe tree, fusee, GB, germfree, glacis, goatee, grandee, grand prix, grantee, green tea, GT, heart-free, he/she, high sea, high tea, Horae, hot key, Humvee, IC, in fee, IV, Jaycee, jaygee, jayvee, Jiangxi, knock-knee, KP, latchkey, lessee, listee, look-see, low-key, LP, lychee, mamey, maquis, Marie, marquee, MC, mentee, Midi, mille-feuille, muggee, must-see, Nancy, ngwee, North Sea, OD, off-key, ogee, Osee, Parcae, pardie, Parsi, passkey, Pawnee, payee, PC, Pee Dee, peewee, pewee, PG, pledgee, pollee, pongee, post-free, précis, puree, puttee, qt, raki, rani, razee, Red Sea, rooftree, Ross Sea, rupee, rushee, RV, scot-free, settee, Shaanxi, shade tree, Shanxi, s/he, shift key, shoe tree, sightsee, signee, silk tree, sirree, smoke tree, snap pea, snow pea, spadille, spahi, spondee, squeegee, standee, state tree, strophe, suttee, sweat bee, sycee, TB, tepee, testee, 3-D, titi, to-be, toll-free, topee, to sea, towhee, townee, trainee, Tralee, trochee, trustee, Tupi, turfski, turnkey, tutee, Tutsi, tutti, TV, unbe, vendee, vestee, Volsci, vouchee, whangee, whoopee, wind tee, would-be, Yangtze, yen-shee
FORESEE Defined for Kids
foresee
verb fore·see \fȯr-ˈsē\
fore·saw \-ˈsȯ\fore·seen \-ˈsēn\fore·see·ing
Definition of FORESEE for Kids
: to see or know about beforehand <I didn't foresee the accident.>
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