Foresight
noun /ˈfɔː.saɪt/ — The ability to predict and prepare for future events.
Definition
The ability to predict or plan for what will happen or be needed in the future. Foresight requires not just intelligence but imagination — the capacity to see what is not yet there.
Beyond the definition
Foresight is rare and often unwelcome. The person who sees what is coming frequently encounters disbelief, because what they see has not yet happened. The prophet's burden is being right too early.
Origin & history
English: 'fore' (before) + 'sight'. The metaphor of vision directed forward — seeing what lies ahead. Related to 'foreknowledge' and 'foresee'.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
With remarkable foresight, she had bought the land before anyone imagined the city would expand that far.
The report showed extraordinary foresight — every prediction made in 1970 had come to pass.
Foresight without power to act is its own form of suffering.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Foresight” when the meaning fits your context: The ability to predict or plan for what will happen or be needed in the future. Foresight requires not just intelligence but imagination — the capacity to see what is not yet there.
Synonyms
Antonyms
hindsight, myopia, short-sightedness
Related words
Foresight vs hindsight
Foresight is the ability to anticipate and prepare for future events. Hindsight is the understanding of a situation only after it has occurred.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Leader Reviewing Architectural Model
A team leader calmly reviews a model with colleagues, using open hands and composed posture.
The leader’s calm review of the model demonstrates foresight. By planning and visualizing the structure before it is built, they exercise the capacity to see what is not yet there, guiding the future through intention.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Foresight" mean?
Foresight is noun meaning: The ability to predict and prepare for future events.. The ability to predict or plan for what will happen or be needed in the future. Foresight requires not just intelligence but imagination — the capacity to see what is not yet there.
Where does the word "Foresight" come from?
English: 'fore' (before) + 'sight'. The metaphor of vision directed forward — seeing what lies ahead. Related to 'foreknowledge' and 'foresee'.