prophecy
noun
proph·e·cy ˈprä-fə-sē 
variants or less commonly prophesy
plural prophecies also prophesies
1
: an inspired utterance of a prophet
2
: the function or vocation of a prophet
specifically : the inspired declaration of divine will and purpose
3
: a prediction of something to come
Synonyms
- auguring
- augury
- bodement
- cast
- forecast
- forecasting
- foretelling
- predicting
- prediction
- presaging
- prognosis
- prognostic
- prognosticating
- prognostication
- soothsaying
- vaticination
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The prophecies of the author have all come true. She has the gift of prophecy.
Recent Examples on the Web By that spring, Srinivasan has fulfilled his own prophecy and moved part-time to Singapore. 
Anthony Lydgate, WIRED, 6 Sep. 2022 Controlling inflation quickly is of paramount importance because inflation expectations can become a destructive self-fulfilling prophecy. Martha C. White, CNN, 26 Aug. 2022 Having such an attitude could become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Khalid Abdulqaadir, New York Times, 29 July 2022 After his father’s death, Alaxi, the youngest son of the Kunga family, goes on a long and arduous spiritual journey to fulfil his father’s dying wish and his spiritual prophecy of achieving enlightenment. Patrick Frater, Variety, 11 July 2022 His self-fulfilling prophecy came true, and West, naturally, came along, too. Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 May 2022 How is Aegon's prophecy related to Game of Thrones? Emily Burack, Town & Country, 22 Aug. 2022 In House of the Dragon, the prophecy drives King Viserys' decision to name Rhaenyra his heir. Lauren Morgan, EW.com, 22 Aug. 2022 Smith's prophecy rang true for the Yellowjackets, who had a couple of momentum-shifting plays early to keep the score competitive but looked out of sync on offense all night. The Courier-Journal, 20 Aug. 2022 See More
Anthony Lydgate, WIRED, 6 Sep. 2022 Controlling inflation quickly is of paramount importance because inflation expectations can become a destructive self-fulfilling prophecy. Martha C. White, CNN, 26 Aug. 2022 Having such an attitude could become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Khalid Abdulqaadir, New York Times, 29 July 2022 After his father’s death, Alaxi, the youngest son of the Kunga family, goes on a long and arduous spiritual journey to fulfil his father’s dying wish and his spiritual prophecy of achieving enlightenment. Patrick Frater, Variety, 11 July 2022 His self-fulfilling prophecy came true, and West, naturally, came along, too. Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 May 2022 How is Aegon's prophecy related to Game of Thrones? Emily Burack, Town & Country, 22 Aug. 2022 In House of the Dragon, the prophecy drives King Viserys' decision to name Rhaenyra his heir. Lauren Morgan, EW.com, 22 Aug. 2022 Smith's prophecy rang true for the Yellowjackets, who had a couple of momentum-shifting plays early to keep the score competitive but looked out of sync on offense all night. The Courier-Journal, 20 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English prophecie, prophesie, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Late Latin prophētīa, borrowed from Greek prophēteía "gift of interpreting the will of the gods, interpretation of a god's will," (New Testament) "gift of speaking, preaching and expounding scripture under the Holy Spirit's influence," from prophḗtēs prophet + -ia -ia entry 1
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
prophecy
noun
proph·e·cy ˈprä-fə-sē
plural prophecies
1
: something foretold : prediction
2
: the ability to predict what will happen in the future
prophesies
verb
as in predicts
to tell of or describe beforehand holy men were prophesying the coming of a new messiah Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- predicts
- forecasts
- foretells
- reads
- presages
- anticipates
- prognosticates
- augurs
- promises
- warns
- calls
- announces
- foresees
- forewarns
- forebodes
- cautions
- alerts
- portends
- declares
- vaticinates
- divines
- proclaims
- bodes
- foreknows
- heralds
- forbodes
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- reports
- tells
- describes
- relates
- recounts
- recites
- narrates