Predictable

Able to be foreseen or expected; likely to occur or behave in a way that can be predicted, often implying a lack of surprise.

adjective

Predictable

Able to be foreseen or expected; likely to occur or behave in a way that can be predicted, often implying a lack of surprise.

adjective

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Imagine This

Imagine a mystery novel whose ending is revealed on the very first page; every twist unfolds exactly as predicted, making the story feel prewritten.

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Sounds Like

prɪˈdɪk.tə.bəl

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Looks Like

predict + able; visually resembles the words 'predict' and 'able'

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Remember This

The root 'predict' comes from Latin praedicere 'to say beforehand' (prae- = before, dicere = to say). The suffix -able turns the verb into an adjective.

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Other Forms

predictverb

predictionnoun

predictablyadverb

predictableadjective

predictablenessnoun

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Connect With

foresee, foreseeability, foreseeable, expected, likely, routine

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Note

Predictable commonly carries a slightly negative nuance, implying dullness due to lack of surprise. Distinguish from 'predictive' (tending to forecast) and 'prediction' (the act or result of predicting).

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Study Deeper

Examples

The plot of the movie was predictable; you could guess the ending within the first act.
Her morning routine is predictable: coffee, emails, and a jog before work.

Synonyms

foreseeableexpectedlikelypredetermined

Antonyms

unpredictableunforeseeableunexpected

Etymology

From predict, which comes from Latin praedicere 'to say beforehand' (prae- 'before' + dicere 'to say'), with the suffix -able forming the adjective.

Mnemonic

PRE-DICT-ABLE: Before anyone speaks, the future can be said; picture a fortune-teller who keeps predicting the same outcomes, so the plot is always predictable.