ENGLISH
REFERENCE

unpredictable

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌənpɹɪˈdɪktəbəɫ// UK //ʌnpɹɪdˈɪktəbəl// un·pre·dictable

adj. describing someone or something that changes often, so you never know what will happen next. It is hard to guess what they will do.

adj. tending to change suddenly or behave in ways that cannot be foreseen. Often modified by 'highly' or 'completely'.


SIMPLE

The weather in the mountains is very unpredictable.

CONTEXTUAL

Investors are nervous because the stock market has been highly unpredictable lately.

COMPLEX

The protagonist's unpredictable behavior keeps the audience in a state of constant tension, as his motivations remain obscured until the final scene.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From un- + predictable.

Usage

Often follows a linking verb like 'be', 'become', or 'seem'.

Pitfall

The result was unpredicted.The result was unpredictable.Learners confuse 'unpredicted' (something that was not foreseen in a specific instance) with 'unpredictable' (something that is impossible or difficult to foresee by nature).

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