prophesy

[prof-uh-sahy]

verb (used with object)

prophesied, prophesying 

1. to foretell or predict.

   Synonyms: prognosticate, augur

2. to indicate beforehand.

3. to declare or foretell by or as if by divine inspiration.

   Synonyms: divine

4. to utter in prophecy or as a prophet.

verb (used without object)

prophesied, prophesying 

1. to make predictions.

2. to make inspired declarations of what is to come.

3. to speak as a mediator between God and humankind or in God's stead.

4. Archaic.,  to teach religious subjects.

prophesy

/ ˈprɒfɪˌsaɪ /

verb

1. to reveal or foretell (something, esp a future event) by or as if by divine inspiration

2. archaic,  (intr) to give instruction in religious subjects

Confusables Note

See prophecy.

Other Word Forms

• prophesiable adjective
• prophesier noun
• unprophesied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prophesy¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; verb use of variant of the noun prophecy (fully distinguished in form and meaning in the 18th century)

Word History and Origins

Origin of prophesy¹

C14 prophecien, from _prophecy

Synonym Study

See predict.

Example Sentences

According to WTHR-TV in Indianapolis, Davis frequently had to stop and correct the behavior of Lewis, who at one point prophesied the end of the world.

From Los Angeles Times

When we set out to make this film, No Choice, we hoped to imagine a plausible future — not to prophesy our present reality.

From Salon

This is headline news today, but more than a century ago American writers began to foresee such a crisis, and to prophesy what might happen next.

From Salon

Now, even these people are starting to worry that their prophesied savior is too busy golfing and setting up a massive financial corruption scheme to care about the conspiracists who got him elected.

From Salon

The White House says he does not plan to back down, and have downplayed the risk of a recession that has been prophesied by some economists.

From BBC

Related Words

• foretell 
• portend 
• presage