Prognosticate, which comes from the Greek prognōstikos ("foretelling"), first appears in English during the 15th century. Since that time, prognosticate has been connected with things that give omens or warnings of events to come and with people who can prophesy or predict the future by such signs. William Shakespeare used the "prophesy" sense of prognosticate in the sonnet that begins "Not from the stars do I my judgement pluck." "Of thee this I prognosticate," the Bard penned, "Thy end is truth's and beauty's doom and date."
foretell applies to the telling of the coming of a future event by any procedure or any source of information.
seers foretold the calamity
predict commonly implies inference from facts or accepted laws of nature.
astronomers predicted an eclipse
forecast adds the implication of anticipating eventualities and differs from predict in being usually concerned with probabilities rather than certainties.
forecast snow
prophesy connotes inspired or mystic knowledge of the future especially as the fulfilling of divine threats or promises.
prophesying a new messiah
prognosticate is used less often than the other words; it may suggest learned or skilled interpretation, but more often it is simply a colorful substitute for predict or prophesy.
prognosticating the future
Example Sentences
using current trends to prognosticate what the workplace of the future will be like
Recent Examples on the WebBut 2021 data are still incomplete, so the ability to prognosticate how quickly the industry is regaining its pre-COVID economic levels is limited. Bob Verini, Variety, 9 Mar. 2022 Buyers could look at more social media reactions, from Twitter to Letterboxd, to prognosticate prospective audience responses. Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Feb. 2022 In October, Talsma says Tony was able to prognosticate his game show fame. Elise Brisco, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2022 The Financial Times organized the conference, inviting a lineup of modern-day oracles—the CEO of a health care startup, a professor of economics, a machine-learning expert, and Chen—to prognosticate about the near future. Yi-ling Liu, Wired, 9 Mar. 2021 The next step in the historic impeachment of President Trump has been looming for almost a month now, and after all the strategizing, prognosticating and negotiating, the pieces are finally falling into place for a Senate trial. Aj Willingham, CNN, 14 Jan. 2020 An unanticipated problem was encountered, check back soon and try againWith the premiere of Survivor: Winners at War just a few weeks away on Feb. 12, fans are already prognosticating and predicting what will happen on the show’s 40th season. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 23 Jan. 2020 Like the latter set of nominees, the actors selected by their peers aren’t very likely to surprise those who have been keeping up with award prognosticating this year. Toni Collette, Washington Post, 11 Dec. 2019 My key stat for prognosticating the Rockies pitching season is watching the first couple months of the season and seeing how many innings are pitched by the bullpen. Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 23 Oct. 2019 See More