anticipate

[an-tis-uh-peyt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR anticipate 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.

Nearby words

Origin of anticipate

1525–35; < 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

SYNONYMS FOR anticipate

1. See expect. 5. preclude, obviate.

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Related forms

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

Usage note

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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for anticipating

Studies show that people even experience pleasure from anticipating trips.
9 Ways to Cope With Seasonal Affective Disorder|DailyBurn|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A bemused line reading sneaks in when you are anticipating a hammy hard sell.
It’s OK to Like ‘The Big Bang Theory’|Kevin Fallon|September 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We are not commemorating her—we are cherishing her and celebrating her and anticipating her return.
Person of Interest Identified in Disappearance of UVA Student Hannah Graham|Julia Horowitz|September 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Evanhaim is anticipating a climate in which state-wide regulations require them: “We always want to be ahead of things.”
Solar Panels Now Being Offered as a Prebuilt Feature in California|Daniel Gross|May 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The United States, anticipating a post-Afghanistan war era, is turning its attention to Asia in a so-called “Pacific Pivot.”
Caroline Kennedy Is Big in Japan|Kyle Mizokami|April 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is looking up into your face, and its mouth is open as if anticipating a lump of sugar.
The Sorcery Club|Elliott O'Donnell
Then, anticipating the glories of the Exposition, we congratulated ourselves that we had come.
Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science|Various
Anticipating an attack on Allatoona, which was held by a small brigade under command of Lieut.-Col.
Campfire and Battlefield|Rossiter Johnson
One week only, and the day would come, the pleasures of which we had been anticipating for months.
Graham's Magazine Vol XXXIII No. 3 September 1848|Various
His brother William Virtue afterwards saved my life—but that is anticipating events somewhat.
Forty Years of 'Spy'|Leslie Ward

British Dictionary definitions for anticipating

anticipate

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 Formsanticipator, 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

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

Word Origin and History for anticipating

anticipate

1530s, "to cause to happen sooner," a back-formation from anticipation, or else from Latin anticipatus, past participle of anticipare "take (care of) ahead of time," literally "taking into possession beforehand," from ante "before" (see ante) + capere "to take" (see capable).

Later "to be aware of (something) coming at a future time" (1640s). Used in the sense of "expect, look forward to" since 1749, but anticipate has an element of "prepare for, forestall" that should prevent its being used as a synonym for expect. Related: Anticipated; anticipating.

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.

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Nearby words

Origin of anticipate

Usage note

Examples from the Web for anticipating

anticipate

verb (mainly tr)

Word Origin for anticipate

usage

anticipate