Also spelled forsee and forsees

US /fɔɹˈsi/ UK /fɔːˈsiː/
verb Freq #18269

Meanings

  1. 1
    verb

    To know or expect that something will happen before it does.

    No one could foresee the sudden change in the weather.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 verb · to know or expect that... anticipatepredict
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Word family
Forms foresawforeseeingforeseenforesees
Derived forms foreseeabilityforeseeableforeseer
Related forms forseeunforeseen

Etymology

From Middle English foreseen, forseen, from Old English foresēon; equivalent to fore- + see. Similar formations in Dutch voorzien, German vorsehen, Latin prōvideō, (whence provide and purvey), Ancient Greek πρόοιδα (próoida), Polish przewidzieć, Russian провидеть (providetʹ).

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