Unpredictable - English meaning

adjective

Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.

Usage examples:

An arbitrary decision

adjective

Based on a desire or idea or chance rather than reason

Usage examples:

Her outfit was an arbitrary choice but was just perfect., we didn’t think much about it, just arbit…

adjective

Based on chance rather than being planned or based on reason

Usage examples:

Arbitrary decision-making, did you have a reason for choosing your destination or was it arbitrary?

adjective

Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behaviour.

Usage examples:

It's terrible to feel our livelihood hinges on a capricious boss

adjective

Likely to change, or reacting to a sudden desire or new idea

Usage examples:

We have had very capricious weather lately.

adjective

Changing mood or behaviour suddenly and unexpectedly

Usage examples:

A capricious child, he was a cruel and capricious tyrant.

adjective

Feeling uncertain about something.

Usage examples:

He looked doubtful, but gave a nod

adjective

Uncertain or unlikely

Usage examples:

[ + (that) clause ] it was doubtful (that) the money would ever be found., she gave me a long, doub…

adjective

Used to describe debts or accounts that are unlikely to be paid

Usage examples:

The company has established an allowance for doubtful accounts based on the credit risk of specific…

adjective

Hesitating or doubting.

Usage examples:

I was rather dubious about the whole idea

adjective

Probably not true or not completely true; doubtful

Usage examples:

The team had the dubious distinction of ranking 31st in the league., a dubious character

adjective

Thought not to be completely true or not able to be trusted

Usage examples:

These claims are dubious and not scientifically proven., he has been associated with some dubious c…

adjective

Not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable.

Usage examples:

Her breathing was erratic

noun

A rock or boulder that differs from the surrounding rock and is believed to have been brought from a distance by glacial action.

Usage examples:

The source of stone for the whetstones may have been glacial erratics

adjective

Changing suddenly and unexpectedly

Usage examples:

An erratic schedule

adjective

Changing frequently, especially as regards one's loyalties or affections.

Usage examples:

Celebs trying to appeal to an increasingly fickle public

adjective

Likely to change your opinion or your feelings suddenly and without a good reason

Usage examples:

He criticized the fickle behavior of football fans who cheer you one week and boo you the next., fi…

adjective

Likely to change suddenly and without warning

Usage examples:

Do americans know how to invest in fickle markets?, the art market is as fickle and hard to predict…

adjective

If something is hit-and-miss, you cannot depend on it to be of good quality, on time, accurate, etc.

Usage examples:

The trains are often late, so getting to work on time is a fairly hit-and-miss affair.

adjective

Full of uncertainty; doubtful.

Usage examples:

The prospect for classes resuming next wednesday seems iffy

idiom

If a situation is in the balance, it has reached a stage where it will soon be decided one way or another

Usage examples:

The future of his shops and those of his 57 staff are in the balance., hang in the balance the game…

adjective

Too great to be calculated or estimated.

Usage examples:

An archive of incalculable value

adjective

Too large to be calculated or measured, or extremely large

Usage examples:

The consequences of a nuclear war are incalculable.

adjective

Impossible to measure

Usage examples:

The cost in lost customer goodwill is incalculable., incalculable damage/harm

adjective

(of a person) given to unpredictable changes of mood, especially sudden bouts of gloominess or sullenness.

Usage examples:

His moody adolescent brother

adjective

(of a person) often sad, or changing from being happy to sad, often for no clear reason

adjective

Made, done, or happening without method or conscious decision.

Usage examples:

Apparently random violence

noun

An unknown, unspecified, or odd person.

Usage examples:

I just sat down by myself and talked to some randoms

adjective

Happening, done, or chosen by chance rather than according to a plan or pattern

Usage examples:

A random sample, he was stopped at the border in a random check., dylan picked several books at ran…

adjective

Not able to be relied on; not known or definite.

Usage examples:

An uncertain future

adjective

Unclear, or not sure

Usage examples:

She faces an uncertain future., we’re uncertain of the cause of death., [ u ] they live in uncertai…

adjective

Not able to be anticipated or predicted.

Usage examples:

Too many unforeseeable political consequences could arise from such a decision

adjective

An unforeseeable event or situation is one that cannot be known about or guessed before it happens

Usage examples:

Loss due to unforeseeable circumstances is borne by the purchaser., these countries were facing a v…

adjective

Likely to give way; not stable.

Usage examples:

The unstable cliff tops

adjective

Not firm and therefore not strong, safe, or likely to last

Usage examples:

It is a poor and politically unstable country., he’s emotionally unstable – you never know how he’l…

adjective

Not feeling, showing, or done with confidence and certainty.

Usage examples:

I stand quietly under that glare, unsure of how to reply to such a statement

adjective

In doubt, or not certain

Usage examples:

[ + question word ] officials were unsure who was in control of the city., he has been unsure of hi…

idiom

Not yet determined

phrase

(of a plan or issue) still to be settled; unresolved.

Usage examples:

The fate of the power station is up in the air

idiom

Uncertain and with an unknown result

Usage examples:

The whole future of the project is still up in the air.

adjective

(of a substance) easily evaporated at normal temperatures.

Usage examples:

Volatile solvents such as petroleum ether, hexane, and benzene

noun

A volatile substance.

Usage examples:

Methyl acetate had the highest mean peak height of the selected volatiles, followed by acetic acid …

adjective

Likely to change suddenly and unexpectedly, or suddenly violent or angry

Usage examples:

It was a volatile situation, and the police handled it well., the stock market was highly volatile …

noun

A sudden desire or change of mind, especially one that is unusual or unexplained.

Usage examples:

She bought it on a whim