predict

Universal Words verb to say that sth will happen in the future SYNFORECAST: [VN] a reliable method of predicting earthquakes * Nobody could predict the outcome. * The party is predicting a majority of 20 seats. * [Vwh-] It is impossible to predict what will happen. * [V(that)] She predicted (that) the election result would be close. * He predicted (that) it would be a smash hit. * [VNthat] It was predicted that inflation would continue to fall. * [VNtoinf] The trial is predicted to last for months. * This figure is predicted to rise to one billion by the year 2005. HELPNOTE This pattern is only used in the passive.