forecast
Americanverb (used with object)
-
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.
-
to contrive or plan beforehand; prearrange.
- Synonyms:
- project
verb (used without object)
noun
-
a prediction, especially as to the weather.
-
a conjecture as to something in the future.
-
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
-
(tr) to plan in advance
noun
-
a statement of probable future weather conditions calculated from meteorological data
-
a prophecy or prediction
-
the practice or power of forecasting
Related Words
See predict.
Other Word Forms
- forecastable adjective
- forecaster noun
- reforecast verb (used with object)reforecast, reforecasted, reforecasting
- unforecast adjective
- unforecasted adjective
Etymology
Origin of forecast
First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English (verb) “to plan ahead of time”; fore-, cast ( def. )
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.
Japanese retail giant Fast Retailing lifted its 2025-26 annual net profit forecast on Thursday, buoyed by a strong performance in mainland China.
From Barron's
The government is forecasting meagre growth of 0.2 percent for 2025, before the economy is expected to pick up speed this year.
From Barron's
Quarterly revenue is forecast to have risen 23% to 93 trillion won.
From Barron's
The bank said in December that while inflation in recent months had been lower than forecast, in the medium term, inflation pressures were virtually unchanged compared to its prior meeting in September.
Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal forecast a drop of 0.8% for November.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
