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expect
[ik-spekt]
verb (used with object)
to look forward to; regard as likely to happen; anticipate the occurrence or the coming of.
I expect to read it. I expect him later. She expects that they will come.
to look for with reason or justification.
We expect obedience.
Informal.to suppose or surmise; guess.
I expect that you are tired from the trip.
to anticipate the birth of (one's child).
Paul and Sylvia expect their second very soon.
expect
/ ɪˈɛ /
verb
to regard as probable or likely; anticipate
he expects to win
to look forward to or be waiting for
we expect good news today
to decide that (something) is requisite or necessary; require
the boss expects us to work late today
Usage
Other Word Forms
- expectable adjective
- expectably adverb
- expectedly adverb
- expectedness noun
- expecter noun
- expectingly adverb
- overexpect verb
- preexpect verb (used with object)
- unexpectable adjective
- unexpectably adverb
- unexpecting adjective
- unexpectingly adverb
- ˈٲ adjective
- ˈٲ adverb
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of expect1
Idioms and Phrases
be expecting, to be pregnant.
The cat is expecting again.
Example Sentences
As for the courts, they do show signs of wear and tear after a week of action, but that is to be expected.
The lowly finishing position was largely expected by the team, who were happy to see both cars come home after 24 hours of racing.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is expected to raise the issue in Parliament this week.
The report is expected to be published on Monday and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is set to address the findings of the review in Parliament.
He’s expected to be a high pick in next month’s amateur draft.
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When To Use
To expect something is to look forward to it or to regard it as likely to happen. How is expect different from anticipate, hope, and await? Learn more on Thesaurus.com.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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