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Definition of predictable adjective from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

      

    predictable

     adjective
    adjective
    NAmE//prɪˈdɪktəbl//
     
     
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  1. 1if something is predictable, you know in advance that it will happen or what it will be like a predictable result The ending of the book was totally predictable. The disease follows a highly predictable pattern. In March and April, the weather is much less predictable. AWL Collocationspredictpredict verb
    • accurately, correctly, confidently, reliably
    Even very sophisticated computer models cannot accurately predict the course of a storm.
    • impossible to, difficult to
    There are always events, such as political or natural disasters, that are impossible to predict and that affect the economy.
    • outcome
    • future
    • behavior
    • likelihood, probability
    Historians are better at reading the past than predicting the future. The computer model uses data from midsummer winds to predict the likelihood of hurricanes striking the United States later in the season.
    • hypothesis, model, theory
    • analyst, economist, expert, forecaster
    The hypothesis predicts that fathers who come from families that were more nurturing will have stronger attitudes about fatherhood.
    • as predicted by
    As predicted by previous research, dark-colored roof surfaces were shown to be absorbing solar radiation.prediction noun
    • dire
    • accurate
    • testable
    • theoretical
    • qualitative, quantitative
    Dire predictions were made about the fate of the Antarctic ecosystem. These results support the theoretical predictions. Ecologists often need to make quantitative predictions about how animal and plant populations will change.
    • test
    • confirm, validate, verify
    • contradict
    • make
    The results confirm the prediction and support the hypothesis.
    • be consistent with
    • be inconsistent with
    These results are consistent with our initial predictions. This finding is inconsistent with the predictions of the traditional model.predictable adjective
    • fairly
    • perfectly
    Historically, water levels in the swamp rose and fell in a fairly predictable pattern.unpredictable adjective
    • totally
    • somewhat
    • inherently
    Chile faces increasing and somewhat unpredictable regional competition from Argentina and Brazil.
  2. 2(often disapproving) behaving or happening in a way that you would expect, and therefore boring He's very nice, but I find him a little dull and predictable. Rock music is getting so predictable these days.
 predictability
 
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NAmE//prɪˌdɪktəˈbɪlət̮i//
 
noun [uncountable] Many young offenders commit further crimes with alarming predictability.
 predictably
 
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NAmE//prɪˈdɪktəbli//
 
adverb Prices were predictably high. Predictably, the new regulations proved unpopular.See predictable in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
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