What does unpredictable mean?
Word: Unpredictable
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Unpredictable means likely to change suddenly, so you cannot tell beforehand what will happen.
Synonyms: changeable, uncertain
Antonyms: predictable, regular
How do you spell unpredictable?
Syllables: un - pre - dict - a - ble
Tricky part: The second part is pre, with an e, not pri. The ending is able, not ible.
Watch out for: unpridictable, unpredictible, unpredictabel
Memory tip: Pre means before, as in prepare: to predict is to tell something before it happens, and un turns it round.
Unpredictable in a sentence
Example 1: Hill weather is unpredictable, so pack a sweater even in May.
Example 2: My little brother's moods are unpredictable.
Example 3: The ball took an unpredictable bounce off a stone on the pitch.
Fun Fact
Predict comes partly from the Latin dicere, to say, which also gave English dictionary and dictate.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Makeup
Choose the correct prefix to make a new word:
predictable
a) in
b) un
c) dis
d) non
Show answer
b) un. Un adds the idea of not: weather nobody can predict is unpredictable.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the correctly spelt word:
a) comfortible
b) unforgetable
c) unpredictable
d) responsable
Show answer
c) unpredictable. Unforgettable needs two t's, comfortable ends in able, and responsible ends in ible.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word:
unpredictable
a) sudden
b) steady
c) wild
d) stormy
Show answer
b) steady. Steady things stay the same and are easy to forecast, unlike unpredictable ones.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
braednpltecui
a) unpredictable
b) unpredictably
c) unprofitable
d) predictable
Show answer
a) unpredictable. Predictable leaves out un, unpredictably ends in y, and unprofitable needs an o and an f.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Why do people say a cat can be unpredictable?
a) it may purr, then scratch
b) it washes itself often
c) it likes to sleep a lot
d) it hunts after dark
Show answer
a) it may purr, then scratch
2. Which of these is truly unpredictable?
a) the day after Sunday
b) the result of a coin toss
c) the direction of sunrise
d) the date of your next birthday
Show answer
b) the result of a coin toss
