prophesy

[prof-uh-sahy]

verb (used with object)

prophesied, prophesying 

1. to foretell or predict.

   Synonyms: prognosticate, augur

2. to indicate beforehand.

3. to declare or foretell by or as if by divine inspiration.

   Synonyms: divine

4. to utter in prophecy or as a prophet.

verb (used without object)

prophesied, prophesying 

1. to make predictions.

2. to make inspired declarations of what is to come.

3. to speak as a mediator between God and humankind or in God's stead.

4. Archaic.,  to teach religious subjects.

prophesy

/ ˈprɒfɪˌsaɪ /

verb

1. to reveal or foretell (something, esp a future event) by or as if by divine inspiration

2. archaic,  (intr) to give instruction in religious subjects

Confusables Note

See prophecy.

Other Word Forms

• prophesiable adjective
• prophesier noun
• unprophesied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prophesy¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; verb use of variant of the noun prophecy (fully distinguished in form and meaning in the 18th century)

Word History and Origins

Origin of prophesy¹

C14 prophecien, from _prophecy

Synonym Study

See predict.

Example Sentences

An apparent similarity between two unrelated events, a parchment-paper test, makes us partial to seemingly endless, overconfident prophesies of disaster.

Read more on MarketWatch

When she was little, a neighbor heard her singing along to the radio and prophesied to Carol’s mother: “Someday she’ll be famous.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But he was quickly disabused of any hope that his prophesies of financial doom would sway opponents.

Read more on BBC

According to WTHR-TV in Indianapolis, Davis frequently had to stop and correct the behavior of Lewis, who at one point prophesied the end of the world.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

When we set out to make this film, No Choice, we hoped to imagine a plausible future — not to prophesy our present reality.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• foretell 
• portend 
• presage