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predicate

1.
/ˈprɛdɪˌkeɪt/
involve as a necessary condition or consequence
2.
/ˈprɛdɪkət/
what is involved as a condition of a proposition's subject
IPA guide

Other forms: predicated; predicates; predicating

The predicate is the part of a sentence that includes the verb and verb phrase. The predicate of "The boys went to the zoo" is "went to the zoo."

We change the pronunciation of this noun ("PRED-uh-kit") when we turn it into a verb ("PRED-uh-kate"). The verb predicate means to require something as a condition of something else, and we use this term mostly in connection with logic, mathematics, or rhetoric. To predicate your argument on certain facts is to use those facts as evidence.

Definitions of predicate (/ˈprɛdɪˌkeɪt/)
  1. verb
    involve as a necessary condition or consequence; as in logic
    “solving the problem is predicated on understanding it well”
    synonyms: connote
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    type of:
    imply
    suggest as a logically necessary consequence; in logic
  2. verb
    affirm or declare as an attribute or quality of
    “The speech predicated the fitness of the candidate to be President”
    synonyms: proclaim
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    type of:
    assert, asseverate, maintain
    state categorically
  3. verb
    make the (grammatical) predicate in a proposition
    “The predicate `dog' is predicated of the subject `Fido' in the sentence `Fido is a dog'”
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    type of:
    interrelate, relate
    be in a relationship with
Definitions of predicate (/ˈprɛdɪkət/)
  1. noun
    (logic) what is predicated of the subject of a proposition; the second term in a proposition is predicated of the first term by means of the copula
    “`Socrates is a man' predicates manhood of Socrates”
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    type of:
    term
    one of the substantive phrases in a logical proposition
  2. noun
    one of the two main constituents of a sentence; the predicate contains the verb and its complements
    synonyms: verb phrase
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    type of:
    phrase
    an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘predicate'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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