foresee implies nothing about how the knowledge is derived and may apply to ordinary reasoning and experience.
economists should have foreseen the recession
foreknow usually implies supernatural assistance, as through revelation.
if only we could foreknow our own destinies
divine adds to foresee the suggestion of exceptional wisdom or discernment.
was able to divine Europe's rapid recovery from the war
anticipate implies taking action about or responding emotionally to something before it happens.
the waiter anticipated our every need
Example Sentences
We couldn't have foreseen the consequences of our actions. He foresees a day when all war will cease. She foresaw the company's potential and invested early on.
Recent Examples on the WebPerhaps more worrisome is the fact that many experts don’t foresee much change anytime soon. Andrew Joseph, STAT, 7 Aug. 2022 But this golden opportunity was challenging in ways Scully did not foresee. James Walker, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2022 But people who understand the industry can already foresee it, and one example is fewer treatment options for desperately ill cancer patients. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 3 Aug. 2022 The Yale researchers don’t foresee the use of OrganEx to treat people anytime soon. Evan Bush, NBC News, 3 Aug. 2022 Whoever said that drastic times call for drastic measures could probably foresee a disruptor like the 2020 Covid-19 crisis. Max Hansen, Forbes, 24 June 2022 Paving the pathway to FDA approval Successfully bringing synthetic cell medicines to the market is doable only if researchers can foresee a pathway to FDA approval, which often depends on the answer to two major questions. Kira Sampson, STAT, 28 July 2022 Today, 60% of CEOs surveyed by the Conference Board foresee a recession by the end of 2023 and 55% expect inflation to stretch into next year. Kevin Kelleher, Fortune, 23 June 2022 What Ciro doesn’t foresee is the lethal enthusiasm of a gang of Latvian nationalists who view the drug operation as a symbol of Russian oppression. John Anderson, WSJ, 27 July 2021 See More
Word History
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of foresee was before the 12th century