anticipate

American  

[an-tis-uh-peyt] / ænˈtɪs əˌpeɪt /

verb (used with object)

• anticipates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• anticipated,
  past participle,  past
• anticipating
  present participle

1. to realize beforehand; foretaste or foresee.

   to anticipate pleasure.

2. to expect; look forward to; be sure of.

   to anticipate a favorable decision.

3. to perform (an action) before another has had time to act.

4. to answer (a question), obey (a command), or satisfy (a request) before it is made.

   He anticipated each of my orders.

5. to nullify, prevent, or forestall by taking countermeasures in advance.

   to anticipate a military attack.

   Synonyms:

   avert, obviate, preclude

6. to consider or mention before the proper time.

   to anticipate more difficult questions.

7. to be before (another) in doing, thinking, achieving, etc..

   Many modern inventions were anticipated by Leonardo da Vinci.

8. Finance.

   1. to expend (funds) before they are legitimately available for use.

   2. to discharge (an obligation) before it is due.

---

verb (used without object)

• anticipates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• anticipated,
  past participle,  past
• anticipating
  present participle

1. to think, speak, act, or feel an emotional response in advance.

anticipate British  

/ ænˈtɪsɪˌpeɪt /

verb

1. (may take a clause as object) to foresee and act in advance of

   he anticipated the fall in value by selling early

2. to thwart by acting in advance of; forestall

   I anticipated his punch by moving out of reach

3. (also intr) to mention (something) before its proper time

   don't anticipate the climax of the story

4. (may take a clause as object) to regard as likely; expect; foresee

   he anticipated that it would happen

5. to make use of in advance of possession

   he anticipated his salary in buying a house

6. to pay (a bill, etc) before it falls due

7. to cause to happen sooner

   the spread of nationalism anticipated the decline of the Empire

---

Usage

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.

The use of anticipate to mean expect should be avoided

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• anticipator
  noun
• preanticipate
  verb (used with object)
• anticipatable
  adjective
• anticipatory
  adjective
• anticipatorily
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• anticipating
  present
• anticipated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• anticipate
  simple
• anticipates
  simple
• have anticipated
  perfect
• has anticipated
  perfect
• am anticipating
  progressive
• are anticipating
  progressive
• is anticipating
  progressive
• have been anticipating
  perfect progressive
• has been anticipating
  perfect progressive

Past

• anticipated
  simple
• had anticipated
  perfect
• was anticipating
  progressive
• were anticipating
  progressive
• had been anticipating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will anticipate
  simple
• will have anticipated
  perfect
• will be anticipating
  progressive
• will have been anticipating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of anticipate

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin anticipātus “taken before, anticipated,” past participle of anticipāre, “to take before,” equivalent to anti- (variant of ante- ante- ( def. ) ) + -cipāre (combining form of capere “to take”)

Explanation

To anticipate something is to be expecting it. Your dog might be waiting by the door, anticipating his next walk or squirrel chase. "Anticipating something" also often implies that you are preparing to take some action because of your expectations — like when you anticipate your chess opponent's next move and plan a counterattack. The word anticipate can also mean "to come beforehand" — as in a certain musical trend anticipating another.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

anticipate anticipates anticipated anticipating

“At this point, only the Supreme Court can bring uniformity and settle this question once and for all. I anticipate that it will do so soon,” Judge Diane S. Sykes wrote in her dissent.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

Deutsche Bank analysts anticipate that Microsoft’s free cash flow could drop near breakeven levels in its 2027 fiscal year, which has just kicked off.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

“Most contacts did not anticipate any notable impact on wage growth, citing the subdued economic conditions and employment outlook,” the ECB said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

"Once people have been through a traumatic event like a flood or a heatwave, they anticipate the next one," Hickman, who offers therapy to individuals experiencing climate anxiety, told the BBC.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

I did not know enough to be afraid or to anticipate in a concrete manner.

From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright

Novo, which had been expected to release its second-quarter results on Wednesday, said it now anticipates adjusted sales growth for the year will be flat or as much as 6% lower, at constant exchange rates.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026

The maker of cleaning products and other household goods anticipates a tough year ahead as inflation and value-seeking consumers are projected to offset recent cost savings.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

Apple anticipates a 47% to 48% gross margin for the September quarter, with about 1 percentage point of positive contribution from tariff refunds.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026

It takes up one-third of a 53-foot tractor trailer—one of 17 trailers “Phantom” travels with, and the team anticipates about 38 hours to load into a venue.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

Turns out not using the number is harder than Jus anticipates, especially when he’s alone with nothing but memories of his homeboy.

From "Dear Martin" by Nic Stone

The service was anticipated to become available to institutional customers on 1 August.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

Stripping out certain one-time items, adjusted per-share earnings were 77 cents, ahead of the 68 cents anticipated by analysts, according to FactSet.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

He added: "Given the event's profile, which as anticipated, resulted in an approximate $30m loss, our margins at UFC as well as on a consolidated basis were meaningfully impacted."

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

Did Abdul-Mateen have Simon-like jitters signing up for one of this fall’s most highly anticipated movies?

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026

The last letter I received from him drew from my eyes human tears, and yet filled my heart with divine joy: he anticipated his sure reward, his incorruptible crown.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

For the third quarter, analysts are anticipating revenue of $12.5 billion, according to FactSet.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026

“We’re anticipating those waves to kind of stay elevated through at least Tuesday.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026

Analysts polled by The Wall Street Journal were anticipating the index would reach 50.5.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

Club Brugge are anticipating an offer from Arsenal for Tzolis.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

Given the rising tensions in the Gulf of Tonkin, McNamara had been anticipating trouble.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• assume
• await
• count on
• forecast
• foresee
• prepare for
• see