anticipate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
anticipates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
anticipated,
past participle, past
-
anticipating
present participle
-
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)
-
anticipates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
anticipated,
past participle, past
-
anticipating
present participle
verb
-
(may take a clause as object) to foresee and act in advance of
he anticipated the fall in value by selling early
-
to thwart by acting in advance of; forestall
I anticipated his punch by moving out of reach
-
(also intr) to mention (something) before its proper time
don't anticipate the climax of the story
-
(may take a clause as object) to regard as likely; expect; foresee
he anticipated that it would happen
-
to make use of in advance of possession
he anticipated his salary in buying a house
-
to pay (a bill, etc) before it falls due
-
to cause to happen sooner
the spread of nationalism anticipated the decline of the Empire
Usage
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.
The use of anticipate to mean expect should be avoided
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
anticipatornoun
-
preanticipateverb (used with object)
-
anticipatableadjective
-
anticipatoryadjective
-
anticipatorilyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
anticipatesimple
-
anticipatessimple
-
have anticipatedperfect
-
has anticipatedperfect
-
am anticipatingprogressive
-
are anticipatingprogressive
-
is anticipatingprogressive
-
have been anticipatingperfect progressive
-
has been anticipatingperfect progressive
Past
-
anticipatedsimple
-
had anticipatedperfect
-
was anticipatingprogressive
-
were anticipatingprogressive
-
had been anticipatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of anticipate
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin anticipātus “taken before, anticipated,” past participle of anticipāre, “to take before,” equivalent to anti- (variant of ante- ante- ( def. ) ) + -cipāre (combining form of capere “to take”)
Explanation
To anticipate something is to be expecting it. Your dog might be waiting by the door, anticipating his next walk or squirrel chase. "Anticipating something" also often implies that you are preparing to take some action because of your expectations — like when you anticipate your chess opponent's next move and plan a counterattack. The word anticipate can also mean "to come beforehand" — as in a certain musical trend anticipating another.
Vocabulary lists containing anticipate
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 8
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
“As capacity eases, which we anticipate, this company will be among the first and hardest hit,” she wrote.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
“I anticipate a lot of criticism,” Rideaux admits, adding that 10 years in the music industry have prepared him for the scrutiny.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet and Oracle are not building AI infrastructure because they anticipate demand will materialize.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026
Investors anticipate a Federal Reserve rate hike this year due to the combination of a resilient jobs market, volatile oil prices and stubborn inflation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
I tried to anticipate Rav Gershenson’s tangled questions.
From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok
Oxford Economics anticipates that manufacturers who stand to be most impacted include those in the cement, paper, printing, wood, clothing and electronics equipment sectors.
From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026
He anticipates that both will use their mobility to make plays if the pocket collapses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
As the memory business evolves in the coming years, Sandisk’s management anticipates that the company will be able to maintain extreme profitability.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
It anticipates 3% to 5% revenue growth in its pharmaceuticals business, and 2%-to-4% growth in medical products and distribution revenue.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
In Cuban son, however, the melody is elastic in the other direction: it anticipates the main beat.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
The commander of one battalion is offering troops who sign up for more years of service four days off for the November 19 launch of the highly anticipated video game.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
The sex specific genetic switches were much less concentrated on the sex chromosomes than researchers anticipated.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 2026
And developing, producing and maintaining the F-35 is anticipated to require $2 trillion, making it the DOD’s most expensive weapon system in history, according to the GAO.
From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026
Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had anticipated industrial production to grow 4.8% last month.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
Stock prices and the dollar’s value dropped sharply as investors anticipated a national crisis.
From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow
After several movie announcements at San Diego Comic-Con last month, fans had been anticipating Marvel’s D23 presentation would focus on its series slate.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
Locals were anticipating the busiest summer in years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Analysts were anticipating $4.42 billion in revenue, according to FactSet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
Overall, Miller is overweighting technology stocks in his portfolio, anticipating at least high-teens-percentage earnings growth in the next five to 10 years, but he is cognizant of risks in the sector.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
All the strain of trying to make friends with Hooper and failing, of anticipating his cunning, all the fear of the unknown traps he might lay, would be gone.
From "I'm the King of the Castle" by Susan Hill
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.
