foreseeable
Americanadjective
-
as far as can be seen.
Our objective is to make travel around the city quick, easy, and trouble-free for the foreseeable future.
-
able to be known or seen in advance.
A key finding was that the fire was foreseeable, and both the mine owner and the regulatory agencies could have prevented it from occurring.
Usage
What does foreseeable mean? If something is foreseeable, it means it can be predicted or identified in advance. Foreseeable is the adjective form of the verb foresee, which means to see or know beforehand. Foreseeable is often used in the phrase the foreseeable future, referring to the span of time in the near future about which reasonable assumptions can be made. Example: Unfortunately, due to the road closure we’ll be taking the detour for the foreseeable future.
Other Word Forms
- foreseeability noun
- unforeseeable adjective
- unforeseeableness noun
- unforeseeably adverb
Etymology
Origin of foreseeable
Explanation
If you know something’s coming, it’s foreseeable. Foreseeable things can be predicted or guessed ahead of time. If there’s no money for you in the foreseeable future, you better get a job. The adjective foreseeable most often turns up in the phrase "the foreseeable future," which basically means "as far in the future as I can predict." The meaning is in the word – it’s the “before” you’re “able” to “see.” You might be so mad at your sister that you tell her you won't drive her to school for the foreseeable future — in other words, you can't, at this point, imagine a time when you'll be willing to give her a ride.
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.
A spokesperson for the plant told the BBC they were "confident we can continue to produce CO2 for the country's needs for the foreseeable future".
From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026
For the foreseeable future, the right answer will be the current style of hybrid with a traditional engine, says James Heywood, who literally wrote the textbook on modern internal combustion engines.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
When asked Thursday if Americans should anticipate spending more on gasoline for the foreseeable future, Trump told reporters at an event related to prescription drugs: “For a little while.”
From MarketWatch • Apr. 24, 2026
With demand for CPUs likely to outstrip supply in the foreseeable future, AMD can boost prices across its portfolio and widen profit margins, he added.
From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026
Although it was a foreseeable event, the circumstances were not.
From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
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.
