forecast
Americanverb (used with object)
-
forecasts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
forecasted,
past participle, past
-
forecast,
past participle, past
-
forecasting
present participle
-
to predict (a future condition or occurrence); calculate in advance.
to forecast a heavy snowfall; to forecast lower interest rates.
- Synonyms:
- anticipate, foretell
-
to serve as a prediction of; foreshadow.
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to contrive or plan beforehand; prearrange.
- Synonyms:
- project
verb (used without object)
-
forecasts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
forecasted,
past participle, past
-
forecast,
past participle, past
-
forecasting
present participle
noun
-
forecasts
plural
-
a prediction, especially as to the weather.
-
a conjecture as to something in the future.
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the act, practice, or faculty of forecasting.
-
Archaic. foresight in planning.
- Synonyms:
- prescience, forethought
verb
-
to predict or calculate (weather, events, etc), in advance
-
(tr) to serve as an early indication of
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(tr) to plan in advance
noun
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a statement of probable future weather conditions calculated from meteorological data
-
a prophecy or prediction
-
the practice or power of forecasting
Synonym Usage
See predict.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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forecasternoun
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reforecastverb (used with object)
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forecastableadjective
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unforecastadjective
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unforecastedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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forecastsimple
-
forecastssimple
-
have forecastperfect
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have forecastedperfect
-
has forecastperfect
-
has forecastedperfect
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am forecastingprogressive
-
are forecastingprogressive
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is forecastingprogressive
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have been forecastingperfect progressive
-
has been forecastingperfect progressive
Past
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forecastsimple
-
forecastedsimple
-
had forecastperfect
-
had forecastedperfect
-
was forecastingprogressive
-
were forecastingprogressive
-
had been forecastingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of forecast
First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English (verb) “to plan ahead of time”; see origin at fore-, cast ( def. )
Explanation
A forecast is a prediction of what will happen. If the weather forecast calls for sunny skies, consider leaving your umbrella at home. (But, since forecasts aren’t guaranteed to be right, don’t blame us if you get rained on.) While often used in the context of weather, forecast can also be used for other types of predictions such as those related to financial or political outcomes. Note that a forecast is typically a prediction made by experts. So, while a financial analyst might forecast fourth-quarter profits, your prediction about whether your friend will pay back the five dollars he owes you is more of a hunch than a forecast.
Vocabulary lists containing forecast
Power Prefix: fore-
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Vocabulary from the Introduction to "Reality is Broken" by Jane McGonigal
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Physical Geography - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
On Saturday, Storm Boelo is forecast to bring more strong winds and heavy rain.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
In a report, the analyst notes “impressive” operating margins in Mullen’s Specialized & Industrial division, which reached 24.7%, ahead of his forecast for 22.4%.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
If you want to catch a glimpse, keep an eye on the forecast to see if the weather will allow a clear view.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
Looking ahead, Booz Allen said it now expects adjusted earnings of $6.50 to $6.70 a share for fiscal 2027, up from a prior forecast of $6 to $6.35 a share.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
We can’t forecast rock disturbances on our own surface.
From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson
Metrolink announced it will temporarily suspend service in Southern Orange County, where the train runs along the coastline, during the last week of October as forecasts call for high tides.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
Rising fuel costs have already scrambled interest-rate forecasts this year, eventually leading the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates for the first time in three years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
Earnings from Facebook-parent Meta and chip equipment maker Lam Research this week have beaten forecasts but seen their shares dive.
From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026
At the summit, a "Wildfires AI Unit" will be announced to combine universities, tech firms and officials in the Cobra emergency committee, along Met Office wildfire forecasts and an action plan for England.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
Today’s issue contained a statement of the actual output, from which it appeared that the forecasts were in every instance grossly wrong.
From "1984" by George Orwell
“Any time we have these strong winds forecasted ... that’s the most receptive time for any start to really take hold and spread,” said Sean Doran, a spokesman with the Orange County Fire Authority.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2026
The company delivered sales near the high end of its forecasted range, but Wall Street was expecting more, and the stock had its worst day in more than a year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
The NPS said on Monday that a second body had been recovered, while warning that "forecasted weather may affect the timing and pace" of further search operations.
From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026
Last season, only four teams featured in the forecasted top-four positions, but this time there are seven named, in 15 different combinations.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
In the decade following the catastrophic eruption of Mount St. Helens, scientists accurately forecasted fourteen subsequent eruptions to within days or weeks.
From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone
He notes that Johnson & Johnson JNJ 2.19%increase; up pointing triangle , the industry juggernaut, is forecasting double-digit sales growth by the end of the decade.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026
Goldman is forecasting 3.9 million existing home sales next year — which is slightly below 2026 levels and some 26% below 2019 levels.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026
"AI has really revolutionised weather forecasting in the sense that you can actually now predict weather much faster, with a really high skill and with a high performance," Pappenberger told AFP.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
The data support weather forecasting by providing timely observations of environmental conditions.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026
Teachers began forecasting great things for me: some said I would make a good teacher, others maintained that I had the brains to become a doctor.
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
