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Prepositions after verbs

Predispose to, towards, or toward?

Predispose is most commonly followed by to. Towards and toward are possible in broader attitudinal meanings but are less common.

Quick answer

Which preposition follows predispose?

Use predispose to for conditions, behaviour, or outcomes: predispose someone to illness or to violence. Predispose toward and predispose towards can appear when describing a tendency or attitude, especially in more formal writing.

Smoking can predispose people to lung disease.
His upbringing predisposed him to distrust authority.
Early experiences predisposed her toward caution.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
predispose to + condition

Describing increased risk

To is standard when talking about illness, behaviour, or outcomes.

Poor sleep may predispose people to anxiety.
The mutation predisposes patients to infection.
2
predispose someone to + verb

Showing a tendency to act

Use to before an infinitive-like meaning expressed by a noun or gerund.

His background predisposed him to take risks.
Stress can predispose workers to make mistakes.
3
predispose toward + attitude

Referring to a general leaning

Toward is occasionally used for attitudes or preferences, especially in American English.

Her education predisposed her toward scientific thinking.
4
predispose towards + attitude

Using the British English variant

Towards is the British English spelling variant of toward in this meaning.

His experiences predisposed him towards compromise.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
predispose to
A sedentary lifestyle may predispose people to heart disease.
Standard and widely used pattern for risk or tendency.
predispose toward
The course predisposed students toward independent learning.
Less common; used for attitudes or inclinations.
predispose towards
Her family background predisposed her towards caution.
British English variant of toward.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using predispose without a suitable object

Predispose usually needs a person or group affected by the tendency.

✕ The diet predisposes to illness. ✓ The diet predisposes people to illness.

Confusing to and toward

To is preferred for medical and behavioural risks.

✕ The gene predisposes patients toward diabetes. ✓ The gene predisposes patients to diabetes.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Lack of exercise can predispose people ___ obesity.
2. Her training predisposed her ___ analytical thinking.
3. The report says stress predisposes workers ___ make errors.

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Frequently asked questions

Which is more common: predispose to or predispose toward?

Predispose to is much more standard, especially in medical and scientific contexts.

Is predispose towards correct?

Yes. It is mainly a British English variant of predispose toward.

Can predispose be used without an object?

Usually no. The verb normally states who or what is predisposed.

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