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prediction

prediction

375 2.6
A guess about what will happen in the future based on facts or signs
  • noun
  • /prɪˈdɪkʃən/
translation icon : predicción
  • The scientist made an accurate prediction about the weather for next week.
  • make predictions
  • an accurate prediction
  • contrary to predictions

These are all predictions of that hot Big Bang.

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Examples

  • We'll then find out if our predictions of the past hold up in the future.

    Academic text (2011)
  • So who is better at prediction, humans or machines?

  • But sometimes making the right prediction could be OK.

  • So what is your prediction for this outcome?

  • What's your prediction for the next year?

  • But for Marx that prediction is really key.

  • So my prediction, the court will not uphold this.

  • Because all her predictions came true.

  • Phil takes a deep breath and makes his first experimental prediction, recalling the previous day.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • We've been studying quake prediction for 10 years.

Synonyms

expectation
vsprediction
633 2.8

A belief that something will happen in the future

is an evidence based statement rather than a personal belief or feeling
prospect
vsprediction
425 3.3

A chance that something will happen in the future

is a statement asserting a future event rather than a chance or possibility
prophecy
vsprediction
142 6.2

A statement that predicts the future and comes from someone who says they know it

is based on human knowledge, reasoning, experience, or evidence
projection
vsprediction
137 4.4

An estimate of a future result based on past and present data

is not confined to analytic estimates and can use other bases
prognosis
vsprediction
55 7.2

A prediction of how a disease or situation will turn out

is a general future statement not limited to medical outcomes
weather forecast
vsprediction
18 1.1

A short report that says what the weather will be like

applies to any future event, not only weather reports
prognostication
vsprediction
8 9.3

A statement about what will happen in the future

relies on evidence and reasoning rather than signs or supernatural claims
foretelling
vsprediction
1 6.8

To say what will happen in the future

is based on knowledge, reasoning, experience, or evidence
weather outlook
vsprediction
1 2.8

A report that says what the weather will be like for a place and time

is broader and not limited to weather statements

Antonyms

296 4.0

Not being sure about what will happen or what to do

Compounds

A forecast that is too hopeful about how things will turn out

How Certain

prophecy
142 6.2
to forecast
54 2.5
prediction
375 2.6
speculation
288 4.8
guess
768 1.0

Surface Forms

prediction singular
predictions plural

Morphology

prediction = predict (transparent) = predict + ion

Standard noun formation from the verb 'predict' using the productive suffix '-ion', yielding a noun meaning 'the act or result of predicting'.

Etymology

Prediction comes from the parts pre- meaning 'before' and dict meaning 'say', the same root you see in dictionary. So, a prediction is a 'saying before' something happens, which is why it means a statement about the future.