English Reference
adjective · noun

predictable

adj. · n.
US /pɹiˈdɪktəbəɫ/ UK /pɹɪdˈɪktəbəl/ pre·dictable

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.happening in a way that you expect and are not surprised by.

    adj.capable of being foretold or anticipated based on prior experience or logical patterns.

    Simple

    The weather here is very predictable; it rains almost every afternoon in the summer.

    In context

    The financial markets reacted in a predictable manner to the central bank's announcement, as the rate hike had been anticipated for weeks.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.boring because you always know what will happen next.

    adj.lacking in novelty or creative surprise; often used pejoratively to describe artistic works or personal behaviour.

    Simple

    The movie was so predictable that I knew the ending after the first ten minutes.

    In context

    Critics dismissed the novel as predictable, noting that the plot relied heavily on tired tropes and two-dimensional characters.

    formulaicunimaginativeclichéd
  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Informal

    n.a person or thing that always behaves in the same way.

    n.a person, event, or entity whose actions or outcomes are entirely expected. Used rarely and typically in informal contexts.

    Simple

    He is such a predictable; he always orders the same coffee at exactly 8:00 AM.

    In context

    In a world of political volatility, the senator remained a predictable, consistently voting along party lines regardless of public pressure.

And given Farage triggered this race and the result was entirely predictable, what was the point of it all?

BBC News· 14 Aug 2026

Frank O’Hara, which I know is one of the most predictable answers a poet can give, but for good reason.

The Guardian· 14 Aug 2026

From predict + -able.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated