foresee
gb/fɔɹsˈi/ us/fɔɹsˈi/
B2
English
~ 8900
Senses
0 senses
Verb
formal
B2
action
1
Realize in advance something will happen
To understand or know before it happens that something will happen in the future.
Usage pattern:
[someone] foresees [something] / [someone] foresees that [clause]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *foresee* when they only mean physically seeing something; however, *foresee* is only about future events, not about using your eyes. For example, "I could foresee him in the crowd" is incorrect; use "see" instead. Another mistake is using an infinitive instead of a clause: say "I foresee that sales will fall" or "I foresee sales falling," not "I foresee to fall in sales." Learners also often choose *predict* or *expect* in very formal writing where *foresee* would better express the idea of careful thought and responsibility.
Synonyms
anticipate (Often suggests preparing for something that is expected, not just predicting it.)
|
predict (More neutral and common; does not always suggest careful thinking or responsibility in the way 'foresee' can.)
|
expect (More general and informal; can be based on feelings or habit, not only on analysis.)
Antonyms
overlook (Shows failing to notice or think about something that could have been foreseen.)
|
be surprised by (Indicates that something was not foreseen and therefore causes surprise.)
Collocations
foresee problems
|foresee difficulties
|foresee consequences
|fail to foresee
|could not have foreseen
|reasonably foresee
Themes
time
|planning
|business
|risk
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- No one could have foreseen how quickly the company would grow.
- The government failed to foresee the economic consequences of the new law.
- Experts foresee that energy prices will continue to rise over the next decade.
- We must try to foresee potential risks before launching the project.
- It is difficult to foresee how the public will react to the decision.
Learner examples
- I did not foresee this problem.
- The doctor could foresee that the child would get better.
- They tried to foresee what might happen next year.
- We must foresee the costs before we start the work.
- Nobody could foresee that the storm would be so strong.
Grammar
Dictionary form
foresee
IPA
GB/fɔɹsˈi/
US/fɔɹsˈi/
Syllables & stress
fore - see (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (see)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: foresee
- 3rd Person Singular: foresees
- Present Participle: foreseeing
- Past: foresaw
- Past Participle: foreseen
Word family
Forms
foresees
verb
foreseeing
verb
foresaw
verb
foreseen
verb
Core family
foreseeable
adjective B2
Related words
foresight
noun B2
foreseeably
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
unforeseeable
adjective
unforeseen
adjective B2
Advanced or less common
foreseeability
noun
Highlights
- Irregular past: foresaw Verb
- Irregular past participle: foreseen Verb
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.