Synonyms

crystal ball

American

noun

a ball of clear crystal, glass, or the like, used in crystal gazing.
a method or means of predicting the future.

crystal ball British

noun

the glass globe used in crystal gazing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

crystal ball Idioms

A means of predicting the future, as in So what does your crystal ball say about the coming election? The term is a figurative use of the crystal or glass ball used by fortune-tellers. [c. 1900]

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

crystal balls

plural

Etymology

Origin of crystal ball

First recorded in 1850–55

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:

crystal ball

Time to dust off the crystal ball once more and have a crack at predicting where the 20 Premier League teams will finish this season.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

But it starts with trying to get it as accurate as possible in our crystal ball, looking forward to where we’re gonna be.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

They’re the smart choice, even if you come across a slightly smudged crystal ball.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026

“We don’t have a crystal ball, because we’re still at war,” he said.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 13, 2026

"Again, ask yourself. You are the great leader. Look into your crystal ball."

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023