anticipate

[ an-tis-uh-peyt ]

/ ænˈtɪs əˌpeɪt /

Save This Word!

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR anticipate

5 preclude, obviate, avert.

See synonyms for anticipate on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

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·ing, adjective

un·an·tic·i·pat·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use anticipate in a sentence

The 2016 law, lawmakers said, was a step to offering equity to vulnerable road users but it didn’t anticipate the proliferation of motorized scooters and bikes, two transportation modes that have grown in recent years.
D.C. Council weighs making it easier for e-scooter riders to collect damages after crashes|Luz Lazo|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
We anticipate continued momentum and we’re excited to assist small businesses as they work through the recovery and position themselves for the future.
LA-based Credit Key raises $33 million for its business-to-business payments platform|Jonathan Shieber|November 20, 2020|TechCrunch
Museums anticipate losing 35 percent of their income this year and about 28 percent next year.
Smithsonian, National Gallery to close as coronavirus cases spike|Peggy McGlone, Sebastian Smee|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
Timeline for AmazonAmazon opened its first Arlington office in June 2019 and is anticipated to have approximately 1,600 employees working at the company’s headquarters by the end of 2020.
Amazon update: Second headquarters development and the area’s housing market|Michele Lerner|November 19, 2020|Washington Post

Green says Thrive Market has doubled the number of drivers in its two fulfillment centers in Nevada and Indiana and has added vertical shelving to store more inventory and to increase its ability to anticipate and handle surges in demand.
Shoppers are panic-buying toilet paper. This time, there should be enough to go around.|Laura Reiley, Abha Bhattarai|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
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
At their luckiest, some writers skewer the present while accidentally anticipating events to come.
This 1979 Novel Predicted Putin’s Invasion Of Crimea|Michael Weiss|May 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There's no use anticipating things disagreeable or otherwise; we'll simply have to take them as they come.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
The chance had come in my way, but in anticipating it I had somehow always contemplated operating on some poor boy or old woman.
The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands|R.M. Ballantyne
As for Laura, she continued in her sullenness, anticipating with resentment the assault about to be made upon her soul.
The Creators|May Sinclair
No one remonstrated when once more recourse was had to the fatal policy of anticipating the annual conscription.
The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte|William Milligan Sloane
A nurse stood over him bathing his wounds to cool the fever, combing his hair, and anticipating all his wants.
The Boys of '61|Charles Carleton Coffin.

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

anticipate

OTHER WORDS FOR anticipate

Origin of anticipate

usage note for anticipate

OTHER WORDS FROM anticipate

Words related to anticipate

How to use anticipate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for anticipate

Derived forms of anticipate

Word Origin for anticipate

usage for anticipate