Definition

1. Noun:
   • The ability to predict or the action of predicting what will happen or be needed in the future: The capacity to anticipate future events, needs, or problems and take appropriate action.
   • Careful thought or planning for the future: The act of providing for or guarding against future eventualities through prudent planning.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • Her foresight in investing early allowed her to retire comfortably. (Her ability to predict the future benefit of early investment allowed her to retire comfortably.)
  • The project's success was due to the manager's remarkable foresight. (The project's success was due to the manager's remarkable planning for the future.)
  • Lack of foresight can lead to avoidable crises. (Lack of anticipation of future problems can lead to avoidable crises.)

Advanced Usage

• "To have the foresight to do something": To possess the wisdom and anticipation to take a specific future-oriented action.
  • He had the foresight to buy property before prices skyrocketed.
• "With foresight": In a manner demonstrating anticipation of the future.
  • The policy was designed with foresight, considering demographic changes decades ahead.

Variants and Related Words

• Foresighted (adj): Having or showing foresight; prudent.
  • A foresighted leader.
• Foresightful (adj): Alternative form meaning possessing foresight.
• Foresee (v): To be aware of beforehand; predict.
  • To foresee a problem.

Synonyms

• Forethought: Careful consideration of what will be necessary or may happen in the future.
• Anticipation: The action of anticipating something; expectation or prediction.
• Prudence: The quality of being prudent; cautious good judgment, often regarding the future.
• Prescience: The fact of knowing something before it takes place; foreknowledge.

Antonyms

• Hindsight: Understanding of a situation or event only after it has happened.
• Short-sightedness: Lack of foresight or long-term planning.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Hindsight is 20/20": (Contrasting idiom) It is easy to understand what you could have done to prevent a problem after it has occurred, unlike using foresight to prevent it beforehand.
  • We should have invested earlier. Well, hindsight is 20/20.

Noun

1. seeing ahead; knowing in advance; foreseeing
2. providence by virtue of planning prudently for the future