expectation

[ ek-spek-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or the state of expecting:

   to wait in expectation.

2. the act or state of looking forward or anticipating.

   Synonyms: trust, hope, anticipation, expectancy

3. an expectant mental attitude:

   a high pitch of expectation.

4. something expected; a thing looked forward to.
5. Often expectations. a prospect of future good or profit:

   to have great expectations.

6. the degree of probability that something will occur:

   There is little expectation that he will come.

7. Mathematics, Statistics. mathematical expectation ( def ).
8. the state of being expected:

   a large sum of money in expectation.

expectation

/ ˌɛkspɛkˈteɪʃən; ɪkˈspɛktətɪv /

noun

1. the act or state of expecting or the state of being expected
2. usually plural something looked forward to, whether feared or hoped for

   we have great expectations for his future

   their worst expectations

3. an attitude of expectancy or hope; anticipation

   to regard something with expectation

4. statistics
   1. the numerical probability that an event will occur
   2. another term for expected value

Derived Forms

• expectative, adjective

Other Words From

• expec·tation·al adjective
• expec·tation·ist noun
• over·expec·tation noun
• preex·pec·tation noun
• super·expec·tation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of expectation¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin ex(s)pectātiōn-, stem of ex(s)pectātiō “anticipation, suspense,” from ex(s)pectāt(us) (past participle of ex(s)pectāre “to look out for, await”) + -iō -ion; expect

Example Sentences

There is no expectation of Conservative support.

From BBC

“I personally have an expectation for what the Galaxy should look like,” Vanney said.

From Los Angeles Times

His answer pointed to him seeing it as a baseline expectation of government, rather than one of these half dozen points of focus, but it strikes me that leaves space for confusion.

From BBC

Brought in on a two-year deal to succeed David Moyes in the summer, the former Spain and Real Madrid coach arrived at the London Stadium amid huge expectation.

From BBC

But in losing the expectation that anything could be done, I found myself acutely aware of the frailty of hope.

From Slate

Related Words

• assumption
• chance
• confidence
• fear
• forecast
• hope
• intention
• likelihood
• notion
• outlook
• possibility
• prediction
• promise
• prospect
• trust
• view