rhizoverbBeta
DictionarypropheticForetelling the future
adjective

prophetic

pruh-FET-ik/prəˈfetɪk/

Relating to a prediction or inspired revelation about the future.

The woman's warning proves prophetic when the branch falls during the storm.

Two successive visual moments show an older woman predicting a broken branch during calm weather, with a picture-only speech bubble, and the same branch later falling during a storm exactly as predicted.
Etymology
proGreekbefore
+phetGreekto speak
+icGreekpertaining to

The “before” and “speak” elements belong to the word for an inspired divine spokesman. The adjective means “pertaining to a prophet,” with the selected sense emphasizing the prophet's role in foretelling events.

In context

DJGENESISDETROIT!14:33
prophetic wisdom and divine guidance. They entered into states of ecstatic frenzies and spoke in tongues and prophesied the future.
The Divine Feminine Prophets Predicted Christ? Revelations? and More?

More examples

  • The text contains a prophetic vision of a future kingdom.
  • His predictions prove unexpectedly prophetic.
  • The painting illustrates a prophetic dream from the story.

Forms

prophetic · more prophetic · most prophetic

Similar words

predictive
Suggests forecasting without an inspired or revelatory quality.
prescient
Prescient shows knowledge before events happen; prophetic can invoke a revelation or prediction without judging whether it proved true.