What does predicate mean?
The verb predicate means to assert, declare, or state something as true. It can also mean to found an argument or conclusion on a particular basis, as in a study that predicates its findings on long-term observation. In grammar, predicate describes the part of a clause that says something about its subject: in “The child laughed,” the subject is “The child,” while “laughed” forms the predicate. As a noun, predicate has several related uses. It may name the grammatical element expressing what the subject does or is, the expression after “is” in a categorical proposition, or, in formal logic, a property or relation attributed to something. The word has a formal tone and is encountered especially in academic, legal, and grammatical writing.
To assert or declare something, especially as a claim or premise; to express the subject of a clause in grammatical terms.
"The article predicates that the policy will reduce unemployment."
The verb is formal and is especially common in academic, legal, and argumentative prose.
In grammar, the part of a clause that expresses what the subject does or is; in logic, a property or relation attributed to something; also a statement or proposition regarded as the subject of an argument.
"The grammatical predicate includes the verb and any words that modify or complement it."
The plural is used when referring to several grammatical clauses or several asserted propositions.
"The predicates in both clauses have the same subject."
Every sentence has a subject, and the predicate says what that subject does or what it is.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does predicate come from?
The word comes through Latin praedicāre, meaning “to declare” or “to assert publicly,” from prae- (“before” or “in front of”) and dīcere (“to say”). It entered English in the early 17th century in the sense of stating or declaring. Its grammatical use developed from the idea of a statement that is said or affirmed about something.
Related word forms
How predicate is actually used
As a verb, predicate is relatively formal and may sound legalistic or academic, especially in the sense of asserting a claim or basing something on a premise. In grammar, it is commonly used in discussions of clauses, with “subject” and “predicate” forming a basic complementary pair.
Easily confused with predicate
To predict is to say that an event will happen; to predicate is to assert that something is true, without necessarily expressing a future expectation.