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

BST08:07 Anticipatory patter pings off the walls of No1, as the ball girls and ball boys run out to take their positions.

From The Guardian • Jun. 30, 2015

Anticipatory patter pings off the walls of No1, as the ball girls and ball boys run out to take their positions.

From The Guardian • Jun. 30, 2015

The first rule of Anticipatory Theater is not to look for hits and masterpieces, but for what might whet somebody's appetite or stir up a little talk.

From Time Magazine Archive

Anticipatory of the coming event, she sent her suit to the tailor's and had him lengthen the hem of the skirt two inches.

From Just Patty by Relyea, C. M. (Charles Mark)

Anticipatory past participle of the verb "to complect."

From Write It Right A Little Blacklist of Literary Faults by Bierce, Ambrose