foretell

IPA/fɔːˈtel/
KK[fɔrtˈɛl]IPA/fɔːrˈtel/

foretell — verb

  • foretellpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • foretellshe / she / it
  • foretoldpast simple
  • foretelling-ing form

1. to claim or work out, often through dreams, prophecy, or careful study, that a p

1.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to claim or work out, often through dreams, prophecy, or careful study, that a particular event will happen before it actually does.

Example

An old village seer foretold that a great storm would strike the harbour before dawn.

foretell + that-clause for prophetic statements

Aoi's grandmother claimed her tea leaves could foretell the outcome of any wedding.

foretell + noun phrase as object

Common collocations
  • foretell the future
  • foretell doom
  • foretell disaster
  • foretell the outcome
  • ability to foretell
Synonyms
  • predict

    neutral, everyday word; based on data or reasoning rather than prophecy

  • prophesy

    stronger religious or mystical connotation than foretell

  • forecast

    based on systematic analysis, especially weather, economics, or trends

  • presage

    very formal; often used of signs or omens that hint at coming events

Antonyms
  • recount

    to tell about past events rather than future ones

Grammar Patterns

foretell + noun

foretell + that-clause

foretell + wh-clause

Usage Note

Formal and literary register; in everyday English, 'predict' or 'forecast' is preferred. Subject is often a prophet, oracle, sign, or omen rather than an ordinary person making a logical guess.

Common Mistakes

The weather report foretells rain tomorrow.
The weather report predicts rain tomorrow.
'foretell' suggests prophecy or mystical insight, not routine forecasting.
I foretold you this would happen.
I told you this would happen.' / 'I predicted this would happen.
'foretell' is not used in casual 'I told you so' contexts.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All five words mean to say something about the future, but the register and basis differ sharply. 'Predict' is the neutral everyday choice — a scientist, fan, or weather app can predict an outcome from evidence or guesswork. 'Forecast' is more systematic, suggesting careful analysis of data: weather, sales, election results. 'Foretell' carries an old-fashioned, literary flavour and usually implies mystical insight — oracles, seers, dreams, omens. 'Prophesy' is stronger still, with explicit religious or spiritual overtones; prophets in scripture prophesy. 'Presage' is highly formal and often refers to signs or events that hint at what is coming, rather than a person speaking. So a meteorologist forecasts rain, a friend predicts your team will win, an oracle foretells the king's fall, a prophet prophesies the end of an age, and dark clouds presage a storm.

foretell ↗predict ↗prophesyforecast ↗presage

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • the ability to foretell
  • as the prophet foretold
  • long foretold

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed in Middle English from the prefix 'fore-' meaning 'before, in advance' plus the verb 'tell', following the pattern of older Germanic compounds. The 'fore-' element traces back to Old English and shares roots with Old High German and Old Norse equivalents. The compound mirrors Latin 'praedicere' (to predict), and the literary, prophetic flavour of the word reflects its long use in religious and poetic English texts.