as in to predict
to tell of or describe beforehand
a 16th-century astrologer who, some claim, accurately foretold 20th-century events
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Recent Examples of foretell
Even as Miyazaki’s style proves memetic in this moment, his work might foretell the future of aesthetics, too.
—
Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2025
Sure that Jesus was the Messiah, his followers scoured the Jewish Bible for prophecies that foretold his coming.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025
This very different film is a dark comedy about a toy monkey that foretells and causes brutal deaths.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2025
Democrats plowed ahead anyway, using a procedural end around, but that race foretold the brutal midterm beating Democrats would take from the GOP with ObamaCare as the main cudgel.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foretell
Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2025
Sure that Jesus was the Messiah, his followers scoured the Jewish Bible for prophecies that foretold his coming.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025
This very different film is a dark comedy about a toy monkey that foretells and causes brutal deaths.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2025
Democrats plowed ahead anyway, using a procedural end around, but that race foretold the brutal midterm beating Democrats would take from the GOP with ObamaCare as the main cudgel.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foretell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foretell
predict
Verb
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Something like our turbulence prediction module might someday be inserted into bigger climate models that can do better at predicting things like hurricanes.—
Steve Nadis,
Wired News,
1 June 2025
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Spinrad visited Southern California in late May and was taken aback by the number of people raising concern over the agency’s ability to continue predicting atmospheric river events, with all of their implications on public safety, reservoir operations and hydro power.—
Michael Wilner,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foretell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foretell. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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