prophesy

[ prof-uh-sahy ]

/ ˈprɒf əˌsaɪ /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: prophesy / prophesied on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), proph·e·sied, proph·e·sy·ing.

to foretell or predict.

to indicate beforehand.

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

to utter in prophecy or as a prophet.

verb (used without object), proph·e·sied, proph·e·sy·ing.

to make predictions.

to make inspired declarations of what is to come.

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

Archaic. to teach religious subjects.

OTHER WORDS FOR prophesy

1 augur, prognosticate.

3 divine.

See synonyms for prophesy on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

ALL IN FAVO(U)R OF THIS BRITISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH QUIZ

There's an ocean of difference between the way people speak English in the US vs. the UK. Are your language skills up to the task of telling the difference? Let's find out!

Question 1 of 7

True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of prophesy

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)

synonym study for prophesy

1. See predict.

words often confused with prophesy

See prophecy.

OTHER WORDS FROM prophesy

proph·e·si·a·ble, adjectiveproph·e·si·er, nounun·proph·e·sied, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH prophesy

prophecy, prophesy (see confusables note at prophecy)

How to use prophesy in a sentence

Should this be the case, those who knew David Powell had little difficulty in prophesying the issue.
A Charming Fellow, Volume II (of 3)|Frances Eleanor Trollope
To-day, far more voices are engaged in denying the yellow peril than in prophesying it.
Revolution and Other Essays|Jack London
Late in May he left Constantinople, prophesying his speedy reappearance in uniform.
A History of the Nineteenth Century, Year by Year|Edwin Emerson
Prophesying sure death and sudden ruin, on back action principles.
Continental Monthly, Vol. I. February, 1862, No. II.|Various

Two of the seventy were not with the rest, but nevertheless they got the spirit and were prophesying in the camp.
The Expositor's Bible: The Book of Joshua|William Garden Blaikie

British Dictionary definitions for prophesy

prophesy

/ (ˈprɒfɪˌsaɪ) /

verb -sies, -sying or -sied

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

(intr) archaic to give instruction in religious subjects

Derived forms of prophesy

prophesiable, adjectiveprophesier, noun

Word Origin for prophesy

C14 prophecien, from prophecy

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

prophesy

OTHER WORDS FOR prophesy

Origin of prophesy

synonym study for prophesy

words often confused with prophesy

OTHER WORDS FROM prophesy

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH prophesy

Words related to prophesy

How to use prophesy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for prophesy

Derived forms of prophesy

Word Origin for prophesy