anticipation

[ an-tis-uh-pey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of anticipating or the state of being anticipated.
2. realization in advance; foretaste.
3. expectation or hope.
4. previous notion; slight previous impression.
5. intuition, foreknowledge, or prescience.
6. Law. a premature withdrawal or assignment of money from a trust estate.
7. Music. a tone introduced in advance of its harmony so that it sounds against the preceding chord.

anticipation

/ ænˌtɪsɪˈpeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of anticipating; expectation, premonition, or foresight
2. the act of taking or dealing with funds before they are legally available or due
3. music an unstressed, usually short note introduced before a downbeat and harmonically related to the chord immediately following it Compare suspension

Other Words From

• nonan·tici·pation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of anticipation¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Middle French, from Latin anticipātiōn-, stem of anticipātiō “innate notion, preconception,” from anticipāt(us) “taken before, anticipated” (past participle of anticipāre “to take before”; anticipate ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

There was an air of excitement and anticipation in the lobby as showtime approached.

From The Daily Beast

First, there was the anticipation and excitement that there was going to be a movie.

From The Daily Beast

In anticipation of the new series, Gail Simone spoke with The Daily Beast via email.

From The Daily Beast

Vieira dumped his personal Facebook page a few weeks ago, partly in anticipation of more backlash that will come with the show.

From The Daily Beast

In anticipation of 2016 the GOP had better consolidate its goods and reinvent its brand.

From The Daily Beast

Aunt Ri was looking forward to the rest with great anticipation; she was heartily tired of being on the move.

From Project Gutenberg

Each word was a caress, each syllable alive with interest, sympathy, excited anticipation.

From Project Gutenberg

The columns advanced cautiously towards the town in anticipation of a fierce resistance and, it was hoped, a fight to the finish.

From Project Gutenberg

Although the gratuity has been frequently calculated in anticipation, you fail in making the mutual reminiscences agreeable.

From Project Gutenberg

Bruce, however, had resolutely restricted himself to the tactics of defence; but the anticipation was a natural one enough.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• apprehension
• hope
• joy
• prospect