foreseeable

adjective

fore·​see·​able fȯr-ˈsē-ə-bəl 

1

: being such as may be reasonably anticipated

foreseeable problems

foreseeable consequences

2

: lying within the range for which forecasts are possible

in the foreseeable future

foreseeability

fȯr-ˌsē-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

Examples of foreseeable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If oil prices hover around $100 a barrel for the foreseeable future, profits this year could add up to $264 billion, the analysis found. —Tristan Bove, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026

That’s a heckuva lot better than the alternative, which was expected roster cracks turning into entirely foreseeable hull breaches, all of it happening in slow motion. —Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026

Israel may well hope to control this territory for the foreseeable future, as a buffer to protect northern Israel from Hezbollah. —Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026

For the foreseeable future, though, the Yankees will be wearing their road grays. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1804, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing foreseeable

• in/for the foreseeable future

Rhymes for foreseeable

• agreeable
• disagreeable
• unenviable
• unforeseeable
• friable

Legal Definition

foreseeable

adjective

fore·​see·​able fōr-ˈsē-ə-bəl 

: such as reasonably can or should be anticipated : such that a person of ordinary prudence would expect to occur or exist under the circumstances

a foreseeable risk

the foreseeable expenses

a foreseeable plaintiff

foreseeably adverb