Word
prophetic
Phoneticsprophet·ic
US/pɹəˈfɛtɪk/
UK/pɹɒfˈɛtɪk/
Definitions
01predicting the future
C1 · Advanced Academic
adj. correctly saying what will happen in the future before it actually happens.
adj. accurately predicting or foreshadowing future events; demonstrating prescience.
“His warnings about the economy proved to be prophetic when the markets crashed.”
“The novelist's descriptions of a surveillance-state society proved eerily prophetic in light of recent technological developments.”
Usage
Often used with 'proved to be' or 'turned out to be'.
Synonyms
02related to a prophet
C1 · Advanced Religion Formal · Literary
adj. related to a prophet or a religious message about the future.
adj. of, relating to, or characteristic of a prophet or prophecy.
“The old books contained prophetic visions of a coming king.”
“The scholar spent years analyzing the prophetic traditions of the ancient Near East to understand their social impact.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“His teammate Peter Beardsley called him “the Goodison Gazza” in an eerily prophetic comparison.” “We had spoken to Yassir: I thought he could win the ball off him – and look how it turned out,” said Racing’s prophetic head coach, José Alberto.” Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French prophétique, from Latin prophēticus, from Ancient Greek προφητικός (prophētikós), equivalent to prophet + -ic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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