prediction

noun

pre·​dic·​tion pri-ˈdik-shən How to pronounce prediction (audio)
1
: an act of predicting
2
: something that is predicted : forecast

Examples of prediction in a Sentence

Journalists have begun making predictions about the winner of the coming election. Despite predictions that the store would fail, it has done very well. The figures and statistics are used for the prediction of future economic trends.
Recent Examples on the Web That means the Jayhawks need to fight through screens, communicate in defending their pick-and-rolls and pack the paint against Ike. Game prediction In a lot of ways, these teams mirror each other. Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2024 The city projects the coming 2024-25 fiscal year to bring $124 million in revenue from the tax, a prediction that once more bets on a rebound in the housing market. Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2024 And the summer allergy season could be a bad one this year, according to AccuWeather predictions. The Enquirer, 22 Mar. 2024 In 1824, a German accountant with a fascination about space and eclipses, Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel, came up with a refined mathematical formula that also moved forward eclipse prediction, elements of which are still used to this day. Keith Matheny, Detroit Free Press, 19 Mar. 2024 Diamondbacks spring training updates: Merrill Kelly has efficient outing What to know about Arizona women's basketball's First Four matchup Grand Canyon vs Saint Mary's picks, predictions, odds: Who wins March Madness game? Shawn Raymundo, The Arizona Republic, 19 Mar. 2024 But Frances’s night takes a hairpin turn when a fortune-teller makes a bone-chilling prediction: One day, Frances will be murdered. Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 19 Mar. 2024 But even by that new standard — with growth forecasts on Wall Street sinking rapidly — the grim sales prediction from a key Tesla analyst on Wednesday was still shocking. Esha Dey, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024 Even so, many unknowns surround the story; Herodotus’s description is vaguely worded, and historians doubt that Thales had a deep enough knowledge of astronomy to make a precise prediction. Dan Falk, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prediction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prediction was in 1561

Dictionary Entries Near prediction

Cite this Entry

“Prediction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prediction. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

prediction

noun
pre·​dic·​tion pri-ˈdik-shən How to pronounce prediction (audio)
1
: an act of predicting
2
: something predicted : forecast
a prediction that there would be an earthquake
predictive
-ˈdik-tiv
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on prediction

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