prever
verbCEFR B1
What does “prever” mean in English?
to foresee, to predict
to foresee, to predict (evidence-based projection: los expertos prevén que + indicative)
Example sentences
Los meteorólogos prevén que habrá tormentas fuertes este fin de semana, así que deberíamos aplazar la excursión hasta que mejore el tiempo.
Meteorologists predict there will be heavy storms this weekend, so we should postpone the excursion until the weather improves.
Nadie había previsto que la huelga duraría tanto, y por eso muchos viajeros tuvieron que cancelar sus planes sin posibilidad de recuperar el dinero.
Nobody had foreseen that the strike would last so long, and as a result many travellers had to cancel their plans with no possibility of getting their money back.
Según el informe, se prevé que dentro de diez años el trabajo en remoto será la norma en al menos la mitad de las empresas del país.
According to the report, it is forecast that within ten years remote working will be the norm in at least half of the country's companies.
How to use it
Prever means 'to foresee' or 'to predict' and is conjugated like ver: the present tense is preveo, prevés, prevé, prevemos, prevéis, prevén, and the past participle is previsto. It is used when a speaker projects a future outcome based on evidence or analysis (economic forecasts, weather, plans). It is more formal and neutral than predecir (to predict, with a more dramatic or assertive connotation) and more analytical than esperar (to hope/expect, which carries optimism). When the prediction has a specific subject, prever can be followed by que + indicative: Los expertos prevén que los precios subirán. Do not confuse with preveer, which is a common misspelling — the correct form is prever.
Common mistake
Prever is not spelt preveer. The two forms look similar but only prever exists. Also, unlike anticipar, prever focuses on projecting a future state from evidence — it does not mean 'to plan ahead' in the sense of taking action. To say 'I have made plans in advance', use planear or organizar con antelación, not prever.