foresight

[ fawr-sahyt, fohr- ]

/ ˈfɔrˌsaɪt, ˈfoʊr- /

Save This Word!

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

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use foresight in a sentence

What a prolific author George Orwell was, and what foresight he had!
Here’s what I think happens in Orwell’s books based on how I’ve heard ‘Orwellian’ used|Alexandra Petri|January 12, 2021|Washington Post
You can have foresight about the future, and you can get in early while products are being thought about and developed, and not just do things after the fact.
“I started crying”: Inside Timnit Gebru’s last days at Google—and what happens next|Karen Hao|December 16, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Strategic foresight is there to enable you to make better-informed choices, and to reflect on the future in an action-oriented manner.
How to plan your life during a pandemic|Amy Nordrum|September 26, 2020|MIT Technology Review
She is a visiting professor at the College of Europe, and the former head of strategic foresight at the World Economic Forum.
How to plan your life during a pandemic|Amy Nordrum|September 26, 2020|MIT Technology Review

This single word impresses upon us the foresightedness with which he anticipates metaphysical doctrines of modern Germany.
The Development of Metaphysics in Persia|Muhammad Iqbal
His spirit of determination, his persistence, his foresightedness, seem to me the predominant traits in a well-rounded character.
The Story of General Pershing|Everett T. (Everett Titsworth) Tomlinson
And with her customary cleverness and foresightedness she called him up at the hospital.
From the Housetops|George Barr McCutcheon
The end of our story will show the wonderful foresightedness of Franklin's scheme.
The War of Independence|John Fiske

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 related to foresight

How to use foresight in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for foresight

Derived forms of foresight