foresight

[ fawr-sahyt, fohr- ]

/ ˈfɔrˌsaɪt, ˈfoʊr- /

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See synonyms for: foresight / foresightedness / foresighted on Thesaurus.com

noun

care or provision for the future; provident care; prudence.

the act or power of foreseeing; prevision; prescience.

an act of looking forward.

knowledge or insight gained by or as by looking forward; a view of the future.

Surveying.

a sight or reading taken on a forward point.
(in leveling) a rod reading on a point the elevation of which is to be determined.

OTHER WORDS FOR foresight

4 foreknowledge.

See synonyms for foresight on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of foresight

First recorded in 1250–1300, foresight is from the Middle English word forsight.See fore-, sight

synonym study for foresight

1. See prudence.

OTHER WORDS FROM foresight

foresighted, adjectivefore·sight·ed·ly, adverbfore·sight·ed·ness, nounforesightful, adjective

Words nearby foresight

foreshore, foreshorten, foreshots, foreshow, foreside, foresight, foreskin, foresleeve, forespeak, forespent, forest

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use foresight in a sentence

When districts make decisions and just hand them down to schools with no foresight into what it will look like on the ground, it’s extremely frustrating.
The Learning Curve: Universal TK Is Not So Universal on the Ground|Will Huntsberry|August 19, 2021|Voice of San Diego
With a little foresight, managers can calm the waves of conflict before they crest and crash.
Remote Work is Now a Status Symbol. Here's How To Make a Workplace That Works for Everyone.|Adam Galinsky|August 10, 2021|Time
While it sounds simple, rolling out a no-meeting policy takes foresight and planning as well as bearing in mind that how employees communicate is part of your corporate culture too.
‘Change without story is a mandate, change with story is purpose’: Why marketing and comms execs are being tapped for chief-of-remote roles|Jessica Davies|August 2, 2021|Digiday
When the company was still small, perhaps such a lack of foresight and imagination could be excused.
Review: Why Facebook can never fix itself|Karen Hao|July 21, 2021|MIT Technology Review

Still, it’s a balancing act, Wallace said, pointing to “the need for reflection in conjunction with foresight.”
With the pandemic receding, you shouldn’t rush to move beyond your experiences of the past year|Steven Petrow|May 30, 2021|Washington Post
What would McCain have done if he were president and had the foresight about the ISIS that he now claims?
The Crisis Leadership of No-Drama Obama|Jonathan Alter|June 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Knowing almost nothing of football, he had the random foresight to examine the Steeler legend's brain.
This Book Will Stop You Watching Football|Kevin Fixler|October 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Natural selection is a mechanical process with no foresight, which can only blindly favor short-term gain.
Rediscovering Richard Dawkins: An Interview|J.P. O’Malley|September 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The Panglossian view of natural selection is an appealing idea to us as human beings, you argue, because brains have foresight.
Rediscovering Richard Dawkins: An Interview|J.P. O’Malley|September 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It is a shame that those organizing the march did not show more foresight.
No Republicans at March on Washington Anniversary|Ben Jacobs|August 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Do not suffer yourselves to be persuaded that measures of foresight are always followed by disasters.
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil|Maria Graham
Such can live many lives; while a Thoreau can live but one, and that only with perpetual foresight.
The Pocket R.L.S.|Robert Louis Stevenson
But this foresight can scarcely belong to His glory, nor spare Him the reproaches which men could legitimately heap upon Him.
Superstition In All Ages (1732)|Jean Meslier
The faculty of foresight, or the ability to know in advance all which is to happen in the world, is attributed to God.
Superstition In All Ages (1732)|Jean Meslier
A God of foresight would prevent evil, and in this way would be saved the trouble of punishing it.
Superstition In All Ages (1732)|Jean Meslier

British Dictionary definitions for foresight

foresight

/ (ˈfɔːˌsaɪt) /

noun

provision for or insight into future problems, needs, etc

the act or ability of foreseeing

the act of looking forward

surveying a reading taken looking forwards to a new station, esp in levelling from a point of known elevation to a point the elevation of which is to be determinedCompare backsight

the front sight on a firearm

Derived forms of foresight

foresighted, adjectiveforesightedly, adverbforesightedness, noun

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

foresight

OTHER WORDS FOR foresight

Origin of foresight

synonym study for foresight

OTHER WORDS FROM foresight

Words nearby foresight

Words related to foresight

How to use foresight in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for foresight

Derived forms of foresight