Words / B2

unpr-i-DIKT-uh-bl/ˌʌnprɪˈdɪktəbl/

Unpredictable means hard to guess or plan for: unpredictable weather; an unpredictable market; unpredictable results. Predict is related; erratic is closer to irregular behaviour. Reliable is an opposite for systems. Do not call a clearly seasonal pattern unpredictable. Speaking tests and outdoor work suffer from unpredictable weather.

Meaning

Changing in a way that is hard to guess.

Examples

• “Unpredictable weather disrupted the outdoor speaking tests.”
• “Demand proved unpredictable after the price cap changed.”

Good to know

unpredictable weather / results / behaviour. Related: predict. Irregular: erratic. Opposite (systems): reliable / predictable. Not a known seasonal pattern.

Near in meaning

erratic

New