# foresee

/fɔɹˈsi/ (US) · /fɔːsˈiː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/foresee
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to predict or anticipate

verb · CEFR B2

to see or realize that something will happen before it occurs.

For teachers: to perceive a situation or event in advance; to anticipate based on current evidence or intuition.

- No one could foresee that the company would grow so quickly.
- Economists failed to foresee the sudden collapse of the housing market despite several warning signs in the preceding months.

Usage: Commonly followed by a noun phrase or a 'that' clause.

Teaching tip: While 'predict' is often based on data, 'foresee' often implies a mental vision or a sense of knowing what is coming.

## Examples

- I do not foresee any problems with your application.
- The economists did not foresee the sudden crash in the housing market despite several warning signs.
- While the architect could foresee the aesthetic impact of the new tower, she failed to anticipate the structural challenges posed by the local soil conditions.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.