expect
Americanverb (used with object)
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expects,
present (3rd person singular)
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expected,
past participle, past
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expecting
present participle
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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.
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to look for with reason or justification.
We expect obedience.
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Informal. to suppose or surmise; guess.
I expect that you are tired from the trip.
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to anticipate the birth of (one's child).
Paul and Sylvia expect their second very soon.
idioms
verb
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to regard as probable or likely; anticipate
he expects to win
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to look forward to or be waiting for
we expect good news today
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to decide that (something) is requisite or necessary; require
the boss expects us to work late today
Usage
This sense of expect ( I expect you went with them. I expect you want to leave now. ) is encountered in the speech of educated people but seldom in their writing.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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expectednessnoun
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expecternoun
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overexpectverb
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preexpectverb (used with object)
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expectableadjective
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unexpectableadjective
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unexpectingadjective
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expectablyadverb
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expectedlyadverb
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expectinglyadverb
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unexpectablyadverb
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unexpectinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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expectsimple
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expectssimple
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have expectedperfect
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has expectedperfect
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am expectingprogressive
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are expectingprogressive
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is expectingprogressive
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have been expectingperfect progressive
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has been expectingperfect progressive
Past
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expectedsimple
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had expectedperfect
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was expectingprogressive
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were expectingprogressive
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had been expectingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of expect
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin ex(s)pectāre “to look out for, await,” equivalent to ex- ex- 1 + spectāre “to look at,” frequentative of specere; see spectacle
Explanation
If you expect something, you think it’s going to happen. If you got up at 4 in the morning, you can expect to fall asleep earlier than usual tonight. If you expect (or anticipate) something, you are fairly sure that it is coming, though you might not be totally certain. You might expect to graduate from a certificate program on time, barring unforeseen events that prevent you from going to class. If you say, simply, “I’m expecting,” people will assume you’re pregnant. Someone disappointed in you might shake his head and say, "I expected more from you."
Vocabulary lists containing expect
"Eleven"
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List 5
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Think
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Don’t get me wrong: Accumulating $2.3 million for retirement by age 68 is an outstanding accomplishment, especially when you also expect to receive Social Security benefits and a pension.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 8, 2026
Fans can expect an update around that time, according to the post.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026
She said: "I would never expect this in Cambridge of all places. I am just hoping these bites will go as soon as possible and I will look normal and get on with my life."
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
"People in the North East rightly expect a strong, coordinated response to this incident," he said.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
“Lizzie, dear. I’m truly happy that you’re here. But I do expect you to return to your room upstairs.”
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
This year, the camp expects to have more than 200 children, evidence of the growth that’s happened over the years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026
Steven Naismith, who served as Clarke's assistant, said last month he expects to continue in the national team set-up under a new boss.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
Wall Street expects CoreWeave to report a steeper per-share loss compared to a year earlier, though revenue is expected to more than double, according to FactSet.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 8, 2026
Nim expects inflation to edge up to 4.5% from 4.4% in June.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
I know Sara expects me to stand up for her, but what does that mean, exactly?
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
But what is a solar eclipse and just what is expected to happen?
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
Hillsborough sat near the far end of that debris path, where the largest pieces were expected to reach the ground.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 8, 2026
Analysts are also concerned about the company’s debt, which is expected to grow to $33 billion, from $25 billion in the first quarter.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 8, 2026
The billboard’s occupancy along the Sunset Strip is expected to end Saturday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026
It’s my first time downstairs, and it’s cozier than I expected.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
West Ham are expecting David Sullivan to attend Saturday's Carabao Cup first-round tie against Portsmouth despite him being advised to stay away from home matches at London Stadium.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
Total revenue rose to $607.7 million from $606.9 million, but avoided the pullback that analysts were expecting, which had pegged revenue at $596.6 million.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
For 2026, Datadog is expecting revenue of between $4.45 billion and $4.47 billion and adjusted earnings per share of between $2.50 and $2.54.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026
I may or may not have rolled my eyes, expecting to see a spider—something my North London upbringing taught me to care little about—when I froze.
From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2026
I was expecting something similar to the dorms back at the Academy, small no-nonsense rooms equipped with a bed, dresser, and desk, but these couldn’t be more different.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
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.
