foretell
/fɔ:'tel/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To predict or prophesy a future event: To state that something will happen in the future, often based on special knowledge, signs, or intuition.
- To be a sign or warning that something is going to happen: To indicate or foreshadow a future event.
Usage
- Transitive Verb: It is typically used with a direct object (what is being predicted).
- The ancient texts foretell a great battle.
- Can anyone truly foretell the future?
- It is often used in formal, literary, or historical contexts.
Examples
Advanced Usage
- "to foretell of": (Less common, formal) To give a prophecy concerning something.
- The prophecy foretold of a time of great change.
Variants and Related Words
- Foreteller (noun): A person who foretells; a prophet or soothsayer.
- Foretelling (noun): The act of predicting or prophesying.
Synonyms
- Predict: To say that an event will happen in the future.
- Prophesy: To foretell a future event, often by divine inspiration.
- Foreshadow: To be a warning or indication of a future event.
- Augur: To portend or predict, often from omens.
- Presage: To be a sign or warning that something, typically something bad, will happen.
Phrasal Verbs
(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs.)
Related Idioms
- None so blind as those who will not see: This idiom relates to the concept of ignoring clear signs that foretell an outcome.
- A sign of things to come: This phrase describes an event that foretells future developments.
Verb
- indicate by signs
- These signs bode bad news
- make a prediction about; tell in advance
- Call the outcome of an election
- foreshadow or presage