Spanish word

prever

Pronunciation

IPA/pɾeˈβeɾ/

Meaning

  • verbpredict

Example

Es difícil prever el tiempo para mañana.

It is difficult to predict the weather for tomorrow.

Illustration for prever (predict)

More examples

Muchas empresas intentan prever pérdidas antes de invertir.

Many companies try to predict losses before investing.

Core concept

An analyst projecting current data into a future outcome.

Common phrases

  • prever el tiempo

    predict the weather

  • prever pérdidas

    predict losses

  • prever riesgos

    predict risks

Similar words

predecir: Predicts future events or results from data and systematic observation.
adivinar: Guesses outcomes by intuition or very limited evidence.
suponer: Assumes a provisional premise without strong evidence to reason from.

Definition in Spanish

Formular una previsión basada en datos o señales presentes sobre sucesos futuros.

Word origin

The verb is from Latin praevidēre (prae 'before' + vidēre 'to see'), literally 'to see beforehand', and it gives prever the sense of predicting outcomes from present evidence.

Usage tips

  • Prever is common in formal reports and technical writing and sounds more official than pensar or esperar in everyday speech.

Other meanings

  • forecastverb
  • foreseeverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word