forecast

American  

[fawr-kast, -kahst, fohr-] / ˈfɔrˌkæst, -ˌkɑst, ˈfoʊr- /

verb (used with object)

forecast, forecasted, forecasting

1. to predict (a future condition or occurrence); calculate in advance.

   to forecast a heavy snowfall; to forecast lower interest rates.

   Synonyms:

   anticipate, foretell

2. to serve as a prediction of; foreshadow.

3. to contrive or plan beforehand; prearrange.

   Synonyms:

   project

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verb (used without object)

forecast, forecasted, forecasting

1. to conjecture beforehand; make a prediction.

   Synonyms:

   estimate, guess

2. to plan or arrange beforehand.

noun

1. a prediction, especially as to the weather.

2. a conjecture as to something in the future.

   Synonyms:

   estimate, guess

3. the act, practice, or faculty of forecasting.

4. Archaic. foresight in planning.

   Synonyms:

   prescience, forethought

forecast British  

/ ˈfɔːˌkɑːst /

verb

1. to predict or calculate (weather, events, etc), in advance

2. (tr) to serve as an early indication of

3. (tr) to plan in advance

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noun

1. a statement of probable future weather conditions calculated from meteorological data

2. a prophecy or prediction

3. 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. )

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.

Example Sentences

MS analysts trim their loan volume forecasts by an average of 1% across the big lenders and now expect impairment charges to be an average 33% higher than previously forecast.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

For fiscal 2026, the company has forecast sales growth of 1% to 5% and profit growth of 0% to 4%.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

In January, before hostilities began, it had forecast growth of 1.3%.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

Analysts expect Netflix to use that money to help further build out its ad stack and to defray some of the $20 billion in content spending it has forecast for this year.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

No one told Burnham about the fire, no one told him of the cancellations, and no one told him of Murphy’s forecast.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Related Words

• anticipate
• augur
• calculate
• conclude
• determine
• estimate
• foresee
• foretell
• gauge
• portend