If you describe someone or something as unpredictable, you mean that you cannot tell what they are going to do or how they are going to behave.
He is utterly unpredictable.
...Britain's notoriously unpredictable weather.
Synonyms: extraordinary, erratic, changeable, variable More Synonyms of unpredictable
unpredictablyadverb [usually ADVERB with verb, ADVERB adjective]
Monthly costs can rise or fall unpredictably.
...her son's unpredictably violent behavior to others.
unpredictability (ʌnprɪdɪktəbɪlɪti)uncountable noun [oft with poss]
...the unpredictability of the weather. [+ of]
...a reputation for unpredictability.
unpredictable in British English
(ˌʌnprɪˈdɪktəbəl)
adjective
not capable of being predicted; changeable
Derived forms
unpredictability (ˌunpreˌdictaˈbility) or unpredictableness (ˌunpreˈdictableness)
noun
unpredictably (ˌunpreˈdictably)
adverb
Examples of 'unpredictable' in a sentence
unpredictable
The only away game of this period is at Gloucester who are eighth and utterly unpredictable.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If you need easy, reliable plants that can withstand unpredictable cold weather, here are my top choices that you can plant now.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The rail operations bear out my point about the unpredictable nature of that franchise system.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It is an absolutely unpredictable and very dangerous situation in the country.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
This is great news as weather gets more unpredictable.
The Sun (2014)
Past form also suggests that he will do something unpredictable.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They have such an illustrious team but they are still utterly unpredictable.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is not just that the batsmen are struggling with the wildly unpredictable bounce.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Park knows the unpredictable nature of the sport could wreck his plans.
The Sun (2012)
Dangerous seas and unpredictable weather patterns mean the journey is risky.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Sales are also worryingly at the mercy of our unpredictable weather.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The risk of regional and global conflict over coming decades is utterly unpredictable.
The Sun (2006)
But over the past five years they have become wildly unpredictable.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This is a very dangerous and unpredictable course to follow and discourages the recruitment of effective and diligent councillors.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It makes him dangerous and unpredictable.
The Sun (2011)
Something is not quite clicking yet at City but this derby game is notoriously unpredictable.
The Sun (2013)
Flu viruses are notoriously unpredictable and full of surprises, as we are seeing.
The Sun (2009)
The weather is unpredictable and it is hard to guarantee a dry surface in April.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Yes, the weather can be wildly unpredictable.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Given the unpredictable nature of back problems, a longer layoff would come as no surprise.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The weather is so unpredictable that sunglasses have become a year-round accessory.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There was always something gloriously unpredictable about the third in line to the throne's first big overseas tour.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But this unruly, unforgettable play takes its unpredictable course to something that makes you feel afresh our powerlessness against time.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
A player who can produce something special, unpredictable and brilliant.
The Sun (2010)
But with sport, it's utterly unpredictable.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It ties up hours of airtime and is notoriously unpredictable, with early finishes and bad weather playing havoc with the tight schedules that the leading channels run.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
unpredictable
British English: unpredictable /ˌʌnprɪˈdɪktəbl/ ADJECTIVE
If someone or something is unpredictable, you cannot tell what they are going to do or how they are going to behave.
Our weather is unpredictable.
American English: unpredictable
Arabic: لا يـُمْكِنُ التَنَبُّؤُ بِه
Brazilian Portuguese: imprevisível
Chinese: 不可预测的
Croatian: nepredvidljiv
Czech: nepředvídatelný
Danish: uforudsigelig
Dutch: onvoorspelbaar
European Spanish: imprevisible
Finnish: arvaamaton
French: imprévisible
German: unvorhersehbar
Greek: απρόβλεπτος
Italian: imprevedibile
Japanese: 予測できない
Korean: 예측할 수 없는
Norwegian: uforutsigbar
Polish: nieprzewidywalny
European Portuguese: imprevisível
Romanian: imprevizibil
Russian: непредсказуемый
Latin American Spanish: imprevisible
Swedish: oförutsägbar
Thai: ไม่สามารถคาดการณ์ได้
Turkish: ne yapacağı belli olmayan
Ukrainian: непередбачуваний
Vietnamese: không thể đoán trước
Chinese translation of 'unpredictable'
unpredictable
(ʌnprɪˈdɪktəbl)
adj
[person, weather, result]易变(變)的 (yì biàn de)
(adjective)
Definition
not easy to predict or foresee
Britain's notoriously unpredictable weather
Synonyms
extraordinary
erratic
the erratic nature of our recent weather
changeable
He was a man of changeable moods.
The forecast is for changeable weather.
variable
Weather conditions are variable and change from day to day.
chance
random
doubtful
unstable
The situation is unstable and potentially dangerous.
unreliable
She had proved to be an unreliable witness and had lied to police.
fickle
They are fickle, faithless and lewd.
hit-and-miss (informal)
iffy (informal)
His political future is looking iffy.
hit-or-miss (informal)
inconstant
unforeseeable
fluky (informal)
scattershot
Opposites
reliable
,
predictable
,
unchanging
,
certain
,
stable
,
constant
,
steady
,
foreseeable
,
dependable
Seemercurial
Synonyms of 'unpredictable'
unpredictable
Explore 'unpredictable' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of iffy
Definition
full of uncertainty
His political future is looking iffy.
Synonyms
uncertain,
doubtful,
unpredictable,
conditional,
undecided,
up in the air,
problematical,
chancy (informal),
in the lap of the gods
in the sense of inconstant
Definition
variable
Synonyms
unreliable,
variable,
uncertain,
volatile,
unsettled,
unstable,
inconsistent,
erratic,
wavering,
uneven,
fluctuating,
wayward,
fickle,
temperamental,
mercurial,
capricious,
unsteady,
changeable,
vacillating,
blowing hot and cold (informal),
mutable,
irresolute,
undependable,
changeful,
vagarious (rare)
in the sense of unreliable
Definition
not able to be trusted or relied on
She had proved to be an unreliable witness and had lied to police.
Synonyms
undependable,
irresponsible,
untrustworthy,
unstable,
treacherous,
disreputable,
not conscientious
in the sense of unstable
Definition
likely to change suddenly and create difficulties or danger
The situation is unstable and potentially dangerous.
Synonyms
changeable,
volatile,
unpredictable,
variable,
fluctuating,
unsteady,
fitful,
inconstant
in the sense of variable
Definition
likely to change at any time
Weather conditions are variable and change from day to day.