eventuality
What might happen
An eventuality is something that might happen—a possible outcome or contingency.
The word appears most often in planning contexts: We prepared for every eventuality.
It suggests foresight about uncertain futures, covering scenarios that may or may not occur: In the eventuality of rain, the ceremony moves indoors.
State resisting forecasts
- chanceLikelihood of occurrence
- probabilityQuantified chance of occurrence
- likelihoodChance something will occur
- indeterminacyLack of fixed outcome
randomness · variability · ambiguity · unknown · imponderable · volatility · flux · open-endedness
Postulated event sequence
- possibilityState of being achievable
- prospectPotential client or opportunity
- circumstanceCondition affecting an event
- situationState of affairs
hypothetical · conditional · unforeseen · if-then · what-if · provision · fallback · backup
Result of an action
- resultWhat follows a cause
- aftermathResults following an event
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- conclusionEnd or deduction
upshot · culmination · denouement · effect · impact · repercussion · fallout · payoff
Arranging for future events
- readinessState of being prepared
- anticipationState of awaiting something
- forecastingEstimating future conditions
- foresightAbility to anticipate futures
provisioning · mitigation · proactive · forethought · precaution · preparation
Total absence of doubt
- fatePredetermined course of events
- destinyPredetermined course of events
- unavoidableImpossible to prevent
- inescapableImpossible to avoid
predetermined · foreordained · imminent · necessity · surety · determinism · inexorable · guaranteed
unpredictability
State resisting forecasts
- chanceLikelihood of occurrence
- probabilityQuantified chance of occurrence
- likelihoodChance something will occur
indeterminacy · randomness · variability · ambiguity · unknown · imponderable · volatility · flux · open-endedness · questionable
scenario
Postulated event sequence
- possibilityState of being achievable
- prospectPotential client or opportunity
- circumstanceCondition affecting an event
situation · hypothetical · conditional · unforeseen · if-then · what-if · provision · fallback · backup · alternative
consequence
Result of an action
- resultWhat follows a cause
- aftermathResults following an event
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
conclusion · upshot · culmination · denouement · effect · impact · repercussion · fallout · payoff · ramification
planning
Arranging for future events
- readinessState of being prepared
- anticipationState of awaiting something
- forecastingEstimating future conditions
foresight · provisioning · mitigation · proactive · forethought · precaution · preparation
certainty
Total absence of doubt
- fatePredetermined course of events
- destinyPredetermined course of events
- unavoidableImpossible to prevent
inescapable · predetermined · foreordained · imminent · necessity · surety · determinism · inexorable · guaranteed
- possibilitiespossibility, chance, likelihood, probability, odds
- inevitabilitiesdeath, mortality, taxes, fate, destiny
- contingenciescontingency, backup plan, plan B, fallback, safety net
- phrenologycraniology, acquisitiveness, adhesiveness, benevolence, cautiousness
- hardshiphardship, adversity, difficulty, trouble, struggle
eventualitycertainty
Total absence of doubt
inevitability · guarantee · sure thing · foregone conclusion · impossibility