prediction
C1Formal, Academic, Technical, Everyday
Definition
Meaning
A statement about what you think will happen in the future.
The act or process of forecasting or prophesying a future event, often based on data, patterns, or intuition.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a degree of uncertainty. Can be based on scientific evidence (weather prediction) or personal belief (superstition). The core idea is stating an event before it occurs.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Equally neutral in both varieties, used in formal and informal contexts.
Frequency
Equally common in both British and American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
prediction that + clause (e.g., his prediction that it would rain)prediction of + noun (e.g., a prediction of disaster)prediction about + noun (e.g., predictions about the economy)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Crystal ball prediction”
- “A safe prediction”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for market trends, sales forecasts, and financial projections.
Academic
Central to scientific method, hypothesis testing, and statistical models.
Everyday
Used for weather, sports outcomes, and personal life events.
Technical
Key term in machine learning, data science, and modelling (e.g., 'predictive analytics').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- It is difficult to predict the British weather with certainty.
- The analysts predicted a downturn in the property market.
American English
- It's hard to predict the stock market's performance.
- No one could have predicted this outcome.
adverb
British English
- He spoke predictively about the economic risks.
American English
- The system works predictively based on past data.
adjective
British English
- Predictive text on my phone is never correct.
- They used predictive modelling for the study.
American English
- The software's predictive analytics are powerful.
- He has a predictive understanding of trends.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My prediction is that it will be sunny tomorrow.
- The teacher's prediction was correct.
- The weather prediction was wrong, so we got very wet.
- His prediction about the election result surprised everyone.
- Economic predictions for next year are cautiously optimistic.
- The model's prediction accurately accounted for seasonal variations.
- Her bold prediction that the theory would be proven within a decade was met with scepticism.
- Advancements in AI have revolutionised the accuracy of predictive algorithms in complex systems.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PRE (before) + DICTION (saying) = a 'saying before' something happens.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE FUTURE IS A LANDSCAPE AHEAD (We make predictions to navigate it). / KNOWING IS SEEING (I see trouble ahead).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'предсказание' (which can imply mysticism). In technical contexts, 'прогноз' is often a better fit.
- The verb is 'predict' (предсказывать, прогнозировать), not 'prediction'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'prediction' as a verb (incorrect: 'I prediction rain' vs correct: 'I predict rain').
- Confusing 'prediction' (future) with 'explanation' (past/present).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest synonym to 'prediction' in a scientific context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A prediction is often based on evidence or reasoning, while a prophecy implies divine inspiration or mystical knowledge.
No, by definition a prediction is about the future. For the past, use 'explanation', 'theory', or 'reconstruction'.
It is neutral. The connotation depends on context (e.g., 'grim prediction' vs. 'optimistic prediction').
The verb is 'to predict'. Remember: 'make a prediction' (noun) or 'predict something' (verb).