anticipated
Americanadjective
-
predicted, foreseen, or expected.
New, more efficient heating equipment will lower your energy bills, and the installment payments are calculated so that they can be offset by the anticipated energy savings.
-
looked forward to.
The hotly anticipated sequel is set to be released on November 14.
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of anticipated
Explanation
If you've ever waited hopefully for an event to happen, then you know when something is anticipated. A newscaster calling out the winning numbers of your lottery ticket might be highly anticipated. Anticipated generally came with a little bit of hope and a little bit of anxiety. If getting into college is an anticipated moment, you may feel butterflies in your stomach, even as you imagine yourself strolling across the perfectly manicured campus lawns. Anticipated can also mean that you expected something to happen and that you were therefore prepared for it. If a difficult French test is anticipated, you may have baked your teacher cookies to sweeten her up — or maybe you studied.
Vocabulary lists containing anticipated
“About Edward Jenner” from the Jenner Institute
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!
"The Hunger Games" Vocabulary from Chapter 24
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 Meaning of Maggie
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.
In April, Wall Street balked at Meta’s plans to spend even more money this year than previously anticipated, sending its stock down more than 5% in after-hours trading.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026
“No long-term health effects are anticipated in the community as a result of this incident.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026
Tesla removed safety monitors from robo-taxis in Austin, but its service, launched a year ago, has expanded slower than anticipated.
From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026
The next official employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics will be released on Friday, with the highly anticipated data providing a window into jobs growth in May.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026
It was dark backstage, darker than she’d anticipated.
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
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.
