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Definition of unpredictable adjective from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

      

    unpredictable

     adjective
    adjective
    NAmE//ˌʌnprɪˈdɪktəbl//
     
     
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  1. 1that cannot be predicted because it changes a lot or depends on too many different things unpredictable weather The result is entirely unpredictable. AWL Collocationspredictpredict verb
    • accurately, correctly, confidently, reliably
    Even very sophisticated computer models cannot accurately predict the course of a storm.
    • impossible to, difficult to
    There are always events, such as political or natural disasters, that are impossible to predict and that affect the economy.
    • outcome
    • future
    • behavior
    • likelihood, probability
    Historians are better at reading the past than predicting the future. The computer model uses data from midsummer winds to predict the likelihood of hurricanes striking the United States later in the season.
    • hypothesis, model, theory
    • analyst, economist, expert, forecaster
    The hypothesis predicts that fathers who come from families that were more nurturing will have stronger attitudes about fatherhood.
    • as predicted by
    As predicted by previous research, dark-colored roof surfaces were shown to be absorbing solar radiation.prediction noun
    • dire
    • accurate
    • testable
    • theoretical
    • qualitative, quantitative
    Dire predictions were made about the fate of the Antarctic ecosystem. These results support the theoretical predictions. Ecologists often need to make quantitative predictions about how animal and plant populations will change.
    • test
    • confirm, validate, verify
    • contradict
    • make
    The results confirm the prediction and support the hypothesis.
    • be consistent with
    • be inconsistent with
    These results are consistent with our initial predictions. This finding is inconsistent with the predictions of the traditional model.predictable adjective
    • fairly
    • perfectly
    Historically, water levels in the swamp rose and fell in a fairly predictable pattern.unpredictable adjective
    • totally
    • somewhat
    • inherently
    Chile faces increasing and somewhat unpredictable regional competition from Argentina and Brazil.
  2. 2if a person is unpredictable, you cannot predict how they will behave in a particular situation opposite predictable
 unpredictability
 
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NAmE//ˌʌnprɪˌdɪktəˈbɪlət̮i//
 
noun [uncountable] the unpredictability of Seattle weather
unpredictably
 
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NAmE//ˌʌnprɪˈdɪktəbli//
 
adverbSee unpredictable in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
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