prophesy
verb
proph·e·sy ˈprä-fə-ˌsī 
prophesied; prophesying
transitive verb
1
: to utter by or as if by divine inspiration
2
: to predict with assurance or on the basis of mystic knowledge
3
: prefigure
intransitive verb
1
: to speak as if divinely inspired
2
: to give instruction in religious matters : preach
3
: to make a prediction
prophesier
ˈprä-fə-ˌsī(-ə)r
noun 
Synonyms
- augur
- call
- forecast
- foretell
- predict
- presage
- prognosticate
- read
- vaticinate
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The book claims that modern events were prophesied in ancient times. holy men were prophesying the coming of a new messiah
Recent Examples on the Web Paul suspects that Xan is named after Xanthus, an immortal horse in Greek mythology who was able to speak and prophesy—and actually prophesied the death of his owner, Achilles. 
Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 13 June 2022 One, by Donatello, seems to prophesy the other, by Michelangelo. Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 13 May 2022 Similar slight improvements are the most that even its advocates are able to prophesy for the dirigible. Victor Lougheed, Popular Mechanics, 13 Aug. 2020 In the years before the virus, critics began to prophesy that a handful of tech companies would soon grow more powerful than the government. Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 12 June 2020 Kierkegaard was the youngest of seven children; his father had prophesied that none of his children would survive past 33, Jesus’ age at crucifixion, and all but Kierkegaard and one brother were to die young. Parul Sehgal, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2020 In 2002 futurist Jeremy Rifkin’s book The Hydrogen Economy prophesied that the gas would catalyze a new industrial revolution. Peter Fairley, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2020 The dominant push toward proper clothes was clearest at Louis Vuitton, which has become a catalyst for trends under its hype-maker/men’s artistic director Virgil Abloh, who recently prophesied streetwear’s decline. Jacob Gallagher, WSJ, 24 Jan. 2020 Early in the Gospel of John, the soon-to-be apostle Philip searches out one Nathanael to share momentous news: The Christ prophesied in the Scriptures has been found, a man named Jesus from Nazareth. Stephen Mirarchi, National Review, 28 Dec. 2019 See More
Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 13 June 2022 One, by Donatello, seems to prophesy the other, by Michelangelo. Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 13 May 2022 Similar slight improvements are the most that even its advocates are able to prophesy for the dirigible. Victor Lougheed, Popular Mechanics, 13 Aug. 2020 In the years before the virus, critics began to prophesy that a handful of tech companies would soon grow more powerful than the government. Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 12 June 2020 Kierkegaard was the youngest of seven children; his father had prophesied that none of his children would survive past 33, Jesus’ age at crucifixion, and all but Kierkegaard and one brother were to die young. Parul Sehgal, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2020 In 2002 futurist Jeremy Rifkin’s book The Hydrogen Economy prophesied that the gas would catalyze a new industrial revolution. Peter Fairley, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2020 The dominant push toward proper clothes was clearest at Louis Vuitton, which has become a catalyst for trends under its hype-maker/men’s artistic director Virgil Abloh, who recently prophesied streetwear’s decline. Jacob Gallagher, WSJ, 24 Jan. 2020 Early in the Gospel of John, the soon-to-be apostle Philip searches out one Nathanael to share momentous news: The Christ prophesied in the Scriptures has been found, a man named Jesus from Nazareth. Stephen Mirarchi, National Review, 28 Dec. 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English prophecien, prophesien, borrowed from Middle French prophecier, verbal derivative of phophecie, prophesie prophecy
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Kids Definition
prophesy
verb
proph·e·sy ˈprä-fə-ˌsī
prophesied; prophesying
: foretell, predict
… every time he prophesied fair weather it rained … Mark Twain, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Mark Twain, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Courtprophesying 1 of 3
adjective
as in predicting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- predicting
- foretelling
- forecasting
- foreseeing
- soothsaying
- divining
- presaging
- prognosticating
- foreknowing
- wondrous
- fortune-telling
- astonishing
- miraculous
- stupendous
- extraordinary
- conjuring
- sublime
- amazing
- portentous
- astounding
- bewitching
- awesome
- metaphysical
- marvelous
- enchanting
- charming
- marvellous
- unearthly
- stunning
- preternatural
- paranormal
- supernormal
- bewitched
- fabulous
- spellbound
- enchanted
- magic
- wiling
- numinous
- occult
- mystic
- magical
- weird
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ordinary
- normal
- prosaic
- usual
- routine
- commonplace
- everyday
- workaday
- unremarkable
- unexceptional
- run-of-the-mill
prophesying
2 of 3noun
as in prophesy
Synonyms & Similar Words
- prophesy
- prophecy
- predicting
- foretelling
- forecasting
- prediction
- presaging
- premonition
- prognosticating
- warning
- auguring
- augury
- forewarning
- admonition
- alert
- admonishment
- notifying
- informing
- alarum
- notification
- alarm
- apprising
- notice
- declaration
- advice
- caution
- recommendation
- heads-up
- guidance
- counsel
- announcement
- tip
- suggestion
- tip-off
prophesying
3 of 3verb
as in reading
to tell of or describe beforehand holy men were prophesying the coming of a new messiah Synonyms & Similar Words
- predicting
- reading
- foretelling
- forecasting
- anticipating
- presaging
- prognosticating
- warning
- auguring
- calling
- announcing
- foreseeing
- cautioning
- vaticinating
- divining
- proclaiming
- portending
- promising
- forewarning
- alerting
- declaring
- foreknowing
- foreboding
- boding
- heralding
- forboding
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- telling
- describing
- relating
- recounting
- reporting
- reciting
- narrating