foreseeable

American  

[fawr-see-uh-buhl] / fɔrˈsi ə bəl /

adjective

1. as far as can be seen.

   Our objective is to make travel around the city quick, easy, and trouble-free for the foreseeable future.

2. 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.

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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

foresee + -able

Example Sentences

Restaurant executives have said they will need to keep promoting deals for the foreseeable future, potentially squeezing profits.

From The Wall Street Journal

For instance, dealmaking for mergers and acquisitions will require human negotiation for the foreseeable future.

From Barron's

That means that it will continue to face exposure to the Middle East for the foreseeable future.

From The Wall Street Journal

Both Washington and Tehran appear to have miscalculated how the other would behave, triggering an ever-expanding conflict with few clear ways out in the foreseeable future.

From The Wall Street Journal

The UK's other aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is out of action for the foreseeable future.

From BBC

Related Words

• likely
• predicted
• proposed
• scheduled