unpredictable
Unpredictable (adjective) means Impossible to know or foresee in advance. Example: “His moods were unpredictable, swinging from cheerful to furious in minutes.”
adjective
1
Impossible to know or foresee in advance.
"His moods were unpredictable, swinging from cheerful to furious in minutes."
"The stock market has been unpredictable all year."
"The weather in the mountains is unpredictable, so pack a waterproof coat."
How to use unpredictable
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishImpossible to guess what will happen next.
Common pairings
unpredictable weather
unpredictable behavior
wildly unpredictable
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Word forms
- Plural
- unpredictables
- Comparative
- more unpredictable
- Superlative
- most unpredictable
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
His moods were _____, swinging from cheerful to furious in minutes.
Etymology
From un- + predictable.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for unpredictable
See all rhymes for unpredictable →Frequently asked questions
What does “unpredictable” mean?
The word “unpredictable” means impossible to know or foresee in advance. In plain terms, impossible to guess what will happen next.
How do you use “unpredictable” in a sentence?
Here is “unpredictable” used in a sentence: “His moods were unpredictable, swinging from cheerful to furious in minutes.”
What part of speech is “unpredictable”?
“Unpredictable” is an adjective.
Is “unpredictable” a common word?
“Unpredictable” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between unpredictable and random?
Unpredictable means an outcome cannot be foreseen in advance, often because too many variables are involved, while random specifically means outcomes occur without any pattern or cause at all. Weather can be unpredictable due to complex factors, whereas a coin flip is random because each outcome is equally likely with no discernible cause.
Is unpredictable a negative word?
Unpredictable can be neutral or even positive depending on context, such as praising an unpredictable plot twist in a film, but it is often used negatively to describe unreliable behavior or unstable situations, such as an unpredictable temper.
Can unpredictable describe both people and events?
Yes, unpredictable is used for people, such as someone with an unpredictable temperament, and for events, such as unpredictable weather or unpredictable markets. In both cases it means the future behavior or outcome cannot be reliably foreseen.
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