What does predictable mean?
Predictable means able to be predicted or anticipated, and it is often used for an outcome, course of events, or pattern of behaviour that seems certain in advance. Its force comes from the contrast between uncertainty and confidence: a predictable result offers little surprise, while a predictable person follows familiar patterns that others can readily anticipate. The word can be approving when it describes consistency, reliability, or a clearly understood system. More commonly, however, it carries a mildly critical or dismissive implication, suggesting that something is obvious, repetitive, or lacking surprise. Predictable commonly describes outcomes, results, movements, changes, and human behaviour. For example, a sports team may have a predictable strategy, while an audience may find a comedian's jokes predictable once they recognize the pattern. The related noun predictability and adverb predictably are also common, particularly in discussions of forecasting, behaviour, and risk.
adjectiveAble to be predicted or anticipated; so consistent in outcome or behaviour that it can be anticipated with confidence.
- Capable of being forecast or anticipated.
- Consistently following a familiar or expected pattern, especially in behaviour or conduct.
"The final result was entirely predictable once the early results had come in."
"The storm's arrival was predictable, allowing the organizers to cancel the event early."
"His responses to difficult questions were so predictable that reporters rarely seemed surprised."
Predictable and preach share a Latin root: Latin praedicere, meaning “to declare or foretell.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does predictable come from?
Predictable was formed in English by adding the suffix -able to predict and is attested by the early 17th century. Predict comes through Old French from Latin praedicere, “to declare or foretell,” built from prae-, meaning “before,” and dicere, meaning “to say.” Related English words such as prediction and predicate come from the same Latin family, while preach is a cognate ultimately derived from Latin praedicare, “to declare aloud.”
Related word forms
How predictable is actually used
The term is standard in British and American English. It can be neutral, especially when describing an outcome that can be anticipated with confidence, but it is often mildly critical when suggesting that someone's behaviour is repetitive, obvious, or lacking spontaneity.
Easily confused with predictable
Predictive describes a model or method used to make predictions, whereas predictable describes something that can itself be predicted.