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
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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
-
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
-
am forecastingprogressive
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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:
Alongside the strong winds, heavy and persistent rain is forecast across the UK on Saturday.
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
On Saturday, Storm Boelo is forecast to bring more strong winds and heavy rain.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
Nomura has also raised its 2026 growth forecast to 3.6% from 3.2%.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
This was when I normally switch on my radio to listen to the shipping forecast.
From "The London Eye Mystery" by Siobhan Dowd
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
In forecasts published earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund lowered its forecasts for Russian economic growth to 0.9% in both 2026 and 2027 from 1.1% previously.
From The Wall Street Journal ● 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
The bullish strategist questions long-term earnings forecasts as Lam Research’s results add to pressure on semiconductor stocks.
From Barron's ● Oct. 22, 2026
“It has been my experience that apocalyptic forecasts on the U.S. financial markets are rarely realized within limited horizons,” one investor wrote to Burry.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
“When a wind event, Red Flag Warning, low humidity period, or other elevated fire weather is forecasted after a wildland fire, departments should reassess recently controlled fire areas before the weather arrives,” the report said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
The bank expects recovering supply from the Middle East and a ramp-up in Indonesia to outpace relatively soft demand, resulting in a forecasted global surplus of more than 800,000 tons in 2027.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 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
Because if I didn’t beat Elliot in this, he would go on to the next level of the Academy, and I’d be left behind, waiting for whatever awful future the letter forecasted to come true.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
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
"One of the things AI is very good at is forecasting," WattTime co-founder Gavin McCormick said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
Eastern on Wednesday, with Wall Street analysts forecasting the month-on-month core print, which omits energy and food, to fall to 0.2% from 0.3% in August.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 12, 2026
The data support weather forecasting by providing timely observations of environmental conditions.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026
Against his bleak forecasting is set my mother’s cheerfulness, in retrospect profoundly willed.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
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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.
