foresee
C1Formal, Academic, Professional
Definition
Meaning
To see or know something that will happen in the future before it happens.
To anticipate or predict a future event or situation based on present indications or logical inference.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Foresee implies a rational, often considered, prediction of a likely outcome, distinct from supernatural 'foresight' or a simple 'guess'. It often involves a degree of responsibility or planning.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning or usage. The past participle 'foreseen' is standard in both.
Connotations
Slightly more formal in both dialects. Associated with planning, risk assessment, and authority.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both UK and US formal contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Someone] foresees [something].[Something] is foreseen.It is foreseen that [clause].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Foresee the unforeseeable (ironic)”
- “Nobody could have foreseen...”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in risk management reports and strategic planning, e.g., 'We foresee a downturn in Q3.'
Academic
Common in future studies, economics, and policy papers discussing predicted outcomes.
Everyday
Used in personal planning contexts, e.g., 'I didn't foresee this traffic.'
Technical
Used in project management (foreseeable risks), law (foreseeable harm), and engineering.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The planners did not foresee the massive demand for cycle lanes.
- Could anyone have foreseen the result of the referendum?
American English
- The analysts failed to foresee the market crash.
- I foresee major problems with that approach.
adverb
British English
- The event was foreseeably chaotic, given the lack of organisation.
- (Note: Rarely used)
American English
- The outcome was foreseeably negative.
- (Note: Rarely used)
adjective
British English
- The foreseeable future looks stable.
- We have no plans to relocate in the foreseeable future.
American English
- For the foreseeable future, remote work will be the norm.
- This is a risk that is not easily foreseeable.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I can foresee a sunny day tomorrow.
- The weather forecast helps us foresee if it will rain.
- He couldn't foresee the problems his decision would cause.
- Economists struggle to foresee the long-term impact of the new policy.
- No one could have foreseen the sudden collapse of the talks.
- The report foresees a significant shift in global demographics over the next century.
- The legal principle hinges on whether the harm was reasonably foreseeable.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
FORE-SEE: Look (SEE) FORward (FORE) in time.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE FUTURE IS A LANDSCAPE AHEAD (we try to see what lies ahead on the road).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'предвидеть' when it means 'to prevent' – 'foresee' does NOT mean 'to stop something'.
- Do not confuse with 'foresight' (noun). 'Foresee' is the verb.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I foresaw the accident to happen.' Correct: 'I foresaw the accident happening.' OR 'I foresaw that the accident would happen.'
- Overuse in informal contexts where 'think' or 'guess' is more natural.
Practice
Quiz
Which word is CLOSEST in meaning to 'foresee' in a formal business report?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Foresee' often suggests a logical deduction based on current evidence, while 'predict' can be broader, including guesses or statements from authority (e.g., a weather prediction). 'Foresee' is also slightly more formal.
It is grammatically possible but highly uncommon and sounds awkward. The simple present ('foresees') or present perfect ('has foreseen') are far more natural.
The direct nominalization is 'foresight'. The gerund 'foreseeing' is also used as a noun (e.g., 'The foreseeing of risks is crucial').
No, 'forsee' is a common misspelling. The correct spelling always includes the 'e': foresee.