anticipate

[ an-tis-uh-peyt ]

/ ænˈtɪs əˌpeɪt /

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See synonyms for: anticipate / anticipated / anticipates / anticipating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), an·tic·i·pat·ed, an·tic·i·pat·ing.

to realize beforehand; foretaste or foresee: to anticipate pleasure.

to expect; look forward to; be sure of: to anticipate a favorable decision.

to perform (an action) before another has had time to act.

to answer (a question), obey (a command), or satisfy (a request) before it is made: He anticipated each of my orders.

to nullify, prevent, or forestall by taking countermeasures in advance: to anticipate a military attack.

to consider or mention before the proper time: to anticipate more difficult questions.

to be before (another) in doing, thinking, achieving, etc.: Many modern inventions were anticipated by Leonardo da Vinci.

Finance.

to expend (funds) before they are legitimately available for use.
to discharge (an obligation) before it is due.

verb (used without object), an·tic·i·pat·ed, an·tic·i·pat·ing.

to think, speak, act, or feel an emotional response in advance.

SYNONYMS FOR anticipate

5 preclude, obviate, avert.

See synonyms for anticipate on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.

Question 1 of 8

Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?

The Sunflower State

The Evergreen State

The Magnolia State

The Mockingbird State

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of anticipate

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin anticipātus “taken before, anticipated” (past participle of anticipāre ), equivalent to anti- (variant of ante- ante-) + -cip- (combining form of capere “to take”) + -ātus -ate¹

usage note for anticipate

Despite claims that anticipate should only be used to mean “to perform (an action) or respond to (a question, etc.) in advance” or “to forestall,” it has been used widely since the 18th century as a synonym for expect, often with an implication of pleasure: We anticipate a large turnout at the next meeting. This use is standard in all types of speech and writing.

OTHER WORDS FROM anticipate

an·tic·i·pat·a·ble, adjectivean·tic·i·pa·tor, nounpre·an·tic·i·pate, verb (used with object), pre·an·tic·i·pat·ed, pre·an·tic·i·pat·ing.un·an·tic·i·pat·ed, adjective

un·an·tic·i·pat·ing, adjectiveun·an·tic·i·pat·ing·ly, adverbwell-an·tic·i·pat·ed, adjective

Words nearby anticipate

anticholinergic, anticholinesterase, Antichrist, antichthon, anticipant, anticipate, anticipation, anticipative, anticipatory, anticity, anticlastic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say anticipate?

To anticipate something is to look forward to it or to be sure of it. How is anticipate different from expect, hope, and await? Learn more on Thesaurus.com.

Example sentences from the Web for anticipate

The November release will be welcomed not only by Obama readers, but by booksellers and fellow publishers who anticipate that the massive demand for A Promised Land will raise sales for everyone.
The first volume of Barack Obama’s long-awaited memoir finally has a release date|Rachel King|September 17, 2020|Fortune
The Singapore hub itself will start off selling ads programmatically, but Insider anticipates more of these global campaigns with local variants.
‘We’re about hiring journalists’: Insider Inc. launches third global news hub in Singapore|Lucinda Southern|September 17, 2020|Digiday
Regardless of your industry, you should look for ways to anticipate and meet customer needs.
How to drive digital innovation necessary during the pandemic|Nick Chasinov|September 16, 2020|Search Engine Watch
The most recent round of surveys in Wisconsin has been highly anticipated, coming after a Republican National Convention that focused heavily on the law-and-order message and in the wake of the Blake shooting and the subsequent protests.
Post-ABC Wisconsin poll shows Biden holding narrow edge over Trump|Dan Balz, Emily Guskin|September 16, 2020|Washington Post

In keeping with the event’s “time flies” theme, Apple debuted two new models of smartwatch, as widely anticipated.
Everything announced at Apple’s ‘Time Flies’ event today|rhhackettfortune|September 15, 2020|Fortune
These insights and discoveries help PepsiCo anticipate, rather than react to, an ever-changing consumer landscape.
The Science of Ingredient Innovation||December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"We anticipate that when we first start training, we won't have that many [recruits] to begin with," said a defense official.
U.S. Hasn’t Even Started Training Rebel Army to Fight ISIS|Tim Mak|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is not at all hard to anticipate additional forces—Turkmens and others—joining the fray in the future.
The Nuclear Deal That Iran’s Regime Fears Most|Djavad Khadem|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The officers explained that those Sikhs had been lynched to death and that Singh ought to anticipate the same fate for himself.
As 30-Year Anniversary of Mass Killings in India Arrives, Sikhs Find Safety in USA|Simran Jeet Singh|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the killers clearly failed to anticipate the uproar that would follow.
Mexico’s First Lady of Murder Is on the Lam|Michael Daly|October 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The pulse in Louis's temples beat hard; yet he was determined not to anticipate, but make Wharton explain himself.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
I did not anticipate a tour of pleasure through Ireland, but the reality is more painful than I anticipated.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
On the other hand, his feet are so cold from the artery being severed that they anticipate mortification.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
Never anticipate the point or joke of any anecdote told in your presence.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness|Florence Hartley
But the event was such as even his sanguine spirit had scarcely ventured to anticipate.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay

British Dictionary definitions for anticipate

anticipate

/ (ænˈtɪsɪˌpeɪt) /

verb (mainly tr)

(may take a clause as object) to foresee and act in advance ofhe anticipated the fall in value by selling early

to thwart by acting in advance of; forestallI anticipated his punch by moving out of reach

(also intr) to mention (something) before its proper timedon't anticipate the climax of the story

(may take a clause as object) to regard as likely; expect; foreseehe anticipated that it would happen

to make use of in advance of possessionhe anticipated his salary in buying a house

to pay (a bill, etc) before it falls due

to cause to happen soonerthe spread of nationalism anticipated the decline of the Empire

Derived forms of anticipate

anticipator, nounanticipatory or anticipative, adjectiveanticipatorily or anticipatively, adverb

Word Origin for anticipate

C16: from Latin anticipāre to take before, realize beforehand, from anti- ante- + capere to take

usage for anticipate

The use of anticipate to mean expect should be avoided

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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anticipate

verb (used with object), an·tic·i·pat·ed, an·tic·i·pat·ing.

verb (used without object), an·tic·i·pat·ed, an·tic·i·pat·ing.

SYNONYMS FOR anticipate

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Origin of anticipate

usage note for anticipate

OTHER WORDS FROM anticipate

Words nearby anticipate

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say anticipate?

Example sentences from the Web for anticipate

British Dictionary definitions for anticipate

verb (mainly tr)

Derived forms of anticipate

Word Origin for anticipate

usage for anticipate

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

anticipate

verb (used with object), an·tic·i·pat·ed, an·tic·i·pat·ing.

verb (used without object), an·tic·i·pat·ed, an·tic·i·pat·ing.

SYNONYMS FOR anticipate

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Origin of anticipate

usage note for anticipate

OTHER WORDS FROM anticipate

Words nearby anticipate

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say anticipate?

Words related to anticipate

Example sentences from the Web for anticipate

British Dictionary definitions for anticipate

verb (mainly tr)

Derived forms of anticipate

Word Origin for anticipate

usage for anticipate