anticipatory

American  

[an-tis-uh-puh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / ænˈtɪs ə pəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

adjective

1. of, showing, or expressing anticipation.

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Other Word Forms

• anticipatorily
  adverb
• nonanticipatorily
  adverb
• nonanticipatory
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of anticipatory

First recorded in 1660–70; anticipate + -ory ¹

Explanation

Anticipatory describes the feeling you get when you know what’s coming. It can also describe something that happens because something else is going to happen later — like that anticipatory excitement you feel the night before a big party. Anything anticipatory has to do with realizing something beforehand, or anticipating. It’s related to the feelings you get while waiting and preparing for something. Sometimes the worst part of being sick isn’t the feeling itself, but the anticipatory anxiety about getting sick again. It’s not the same as a sixth sense, but Spiderman’s spidey sense is anticipatory because it alerts him to future danger.

Example Sentences

Here are a few strategies for keeping anticipatory anxiety at bay.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

It felt like he had that level of power, and everyone essentially acquiesced and you had this sort of anticipatory obedience.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

Beth Hope, an executive coach, says "Sunday blues" are very common and usually come from anticipatory stress, where the brain predicts a high demand on Monday and "activates the stress response early".

From BBC • Jan. 3, 2026

The judge said specific performance could be available in a situation involving an actual breach or an anticipatory breach of the contract.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 12, 2025

It’s what Dr. Greenfield calls “the anticipatory link.”

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel