1
: in a manner that can be predicted
works quickly and predictably
2
: as one could predict : as one would expect
His reaction was predictably negative.
From the beginning, we fell predictably into familiar student roles.—Alexandra Fuller
Predictably, Southern's fans were not pleased.—Andrew Marantz

Examples of predictably in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
However, making a molecule rotate predictably under an electric current while maintaining electrical contact with metal electrodes has remained a challenge. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026 The Nostalgic Take Fair Isle predictably returns to the top of the knitwear stack during the fall. — Minty Mellon, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026 The wristwear was predictably refined—in terms of both aesthetics and proportions—reflecting the growing appeal of the small dress watch. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 19 Oct. 2026 Mentions of data centers have, predictably, shot up across all three networks in recent months as political backlash against AI swells and the data centers themselves have become a salient issue ahead of the midterms. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for predictably

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of predictably was in 1914

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Predictably.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predictably. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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