anticipate

American  

[an-tis-uh-peyt] / ænˈtɪs əˌpeɪt /

verb (used with object)

• anticipates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• anticipated,
  past participle,  past
• anticipating
  present participle

1. to realize beforehand; foretaste or foresee.

   to anticipate pleasure.

2. to expect; look forward to; be sure of.

   to anticipate a favorable decision.

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

4. to answer (a question), obey (a command), or satisfy (a request) before it is made.

   He anticipated each of my orders.

5. to nullify, prevent, or forestall by taking countermeasures in advance.

   to anticipate a military attack.

   Synonyms:

   avert, obviate, preclude

6. to consider or mention before the proper time.

   to anticipate more difficult questions.

7. to be before (another) in doing, thinking, achieving, etc..

   Many modern inventions were anticipated by Leonardo da Vinci.

8. Finance.

   1. to expend (funds) before they are legitimately available for use.

   2. to discharge (an obligation) before it is due.

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verb (used without object)

• anticipates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• anticipated,
  past participle,  past
• anticipating
  present participle

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

anticipate British  

/ ænˈtɪsɪˌpeɪt /

verb

1. (may take a clause as object) to foresee and act in advance of

   he anticipated the fall in value by selling early

2. to thwart by acting in advance of; forestall

   I anticipated his punch by moving out of reach

3. (also intr) to mention (something) before its proper time

   don't anticipate the climax of the story

4. (may take a clause as object) to regard as likely; expect; foresee

   he anticipated that it would happen

5. to make use of in advance of possession

   he anticipated his salary in buying a house

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

7. to cause to happen sooner

   the spread of nationalism anticipated the decline of the Empire

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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

• anticipator
  noun
• preanticipate
  verb (used with object)
• anticipatable
  adjective
• anticipatory
  adjective
• anticipatorily
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• anticipating
  present
• anticipated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• anticipate
  simple
• anticipates
  simple
• have anticipated
  perfect
• has anticipated
  perfect
• am anticipating
  progressive
• are anticipating
  progressive
• is anticipating
  progressive
• have been anticipating
  perfect progressive
• has been anticipating
  perfect progressive

Past

• anticipated
  simple
• had anticipated
  perfect
• was anticipating
  progressive
• were anticipating
  progressive
• had been anticipating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will anticipate
  simple
• will have anticipated
  perfect
• will be anticipating
  progressive
• will have been anticipating
  perfect progressive

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

anticipate anticipates anticipated anticipating

“We anticipate Chairman Warsh will try to maintain optionality and push back against the dotplot indicating another rate hike in 2026,” EY Parthenon chief economist Gregory Daco wrote in an analysis.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026

This could be trying to anticipate what product an online shopper might buy, based on previous purchases, in order to recommend items.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026

Connections between ocean basins can help scientists anticipate shifts in rainfall and other major climate patterns.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 13, 2026

When we commemorate the D-Day victory at Normandy, we don’t discuss why American planners failed to anticipate the dangers of the hedgerows beyond the beaches, where many American servicemen subsequently died.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

Then he skipped again to anticipate the predictions and ascertain the date and circumstances of his death.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Food aromas may prepare the digestive system for an upcoming meal or produce psychological and physiological changes as the body anticipates eating.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026

Jefferies expects that the Fed will ultimately deliver fewer rate increases than the market currently anticipates.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

Additionally, Pajjuri said, the supply chain anticipates price increases of between 80% and 100% for high-bandwidth memory next year.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026

Despite the struggle to contain the jihadists, no-one anticipates Africa Corps leaving the Sahel any time soon.

From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026

“He anticipates it constantly when you’re abroad,” she said.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

Now, it is one of the most hotly anticipated events on the track.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

Meanwhile, Coxon said he kept an eye on AI’s remarkable progress in math as the models advanced much faster than he anticipated.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

The highly anticipated $1-billion building opens to the public Sept. 22, with previews underway.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026

Chief Executive Mary Barra touted the division this summer in a call with analysts, saying she anticipated $700 million in defense revenue this year and double-digit margins.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

He discovered it was ten times as high as it was in the open air: apparently the metal body, reflecting the radioactivity inward from six directions, concentrated the rays more than anyone had anticipated.

From "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O’Brien

Investors are largely anticipating the Federal Reserve will raise its benchmark interest rate on Wednesday, but the prospect of higher borrowing costs isn’t the only thing inspiring angst on Wall Street.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026

The findings raise the possibility that simply anticipating food could trigger some responses resembling those caused by actually eating it.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026

“I don’t have a crystal ball,” McVay said of anticipating when adversity will come.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

Social media platforms are littered with cheering sections gleefully anticipating mass unemployment in creative industries.

From Salon ● Sep. 12, 2026

She will spend most of that first marriage anticipating and then causing its end.

From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon

Related Words

• assume
• await
• count on
• forecast
• foresee
• prepare for
• see