What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
foreseen
Example
The company had foreseen the potential for growth in the market and invested accordingly. [foreseen: past participle]
Example
The team had foreseen the possibility of bad weather and brought extra gear. [foreseen: past participle]
anticipate
Example
I anticipate that we will finish the project by next week. [anticipate: verb]
Example
The athlete anticipated the opponent's move and was able to counter it. [anticipated: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Anticipate is more commonly used than foreseen in everyday language. Anticipate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while foreseen is less common and typically used in more formal or specialized contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between foreseen and anticipate?
Foreseen is more formal than anticipate, which is more commonly used in everyday language and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.