expect
Americanverb (used with object)
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to look forward to; regard as likely to happen; anticipate the occurrence or the coming of.
I expect to read it. I expect him later. She expects that they will come.
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to look for with reason or justification.
We expect obedience.
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Informal. to suppose or surmise; guess.
I expect that you are tired from the trip.
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to anticipate the birth of (one's child).
Paul and Sylvia expect their second very soon.
idioms
verb
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to regard as probable or likely; anticipate
he expects to win
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to look forward to or be waiting for
we expect good news today
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to decide that (something) is requisite or necessary; require
the boss expects us to work late today
Usage
This sense of expect ( I expect you went with them. I expect you want to leave now. ) is encountered in the speech of educated people but seldom in their writing.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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expectednessnoun
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expecternoun
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overexpectverb
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preexpectverb (used with object)
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expectableadjective
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unexpectableadjective
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unexpectingadjective
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expectablyadverb
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expectedlyadverb
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expectinglyadverb
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unexpectablyadverb
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unexpectinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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expectsimple
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expectssimple
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have expectedperfect
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has expectedperfect
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am expectingprogressive
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are expectingprogressive
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is expectingprogressive
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have been expectingperfect progressive
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has been expectingperfect progressive
Past
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expectedsimple
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had expectedperfect
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was expectingprogressive
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were expectingprogressive
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had been expectingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of expect
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin ex(s)pectāre “to look out for, await,” equivalent to ex- ex- 1 + spectāre “to look at,” frequentative of specere; see spectacle
Explanation
If you expect something, you think it’s going to happen. If you got up at 4 in the morning, you can expect to fall asleep earlier than usual tonight. If you expect (or anticipate) something, you are fairly sure that it is coming, though you might not be totally certain. You might expect to graduate from a certificate program on time, barring unforeseen events that prevent you from going to class. If you say, simply, “I’m expecting,” people will assume you’re pregnant. Someone disappointed in you might shake his head and say, "I expected more from you."
Vocabulary lists containing expect
"Eleven"
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List 5
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Think
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"You wouldn't send someone in your family out to get the weekly shop without any kind of detailed instructions as to what you expect in that shopping basket, right?"
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
Microsoft assured investors in its earnings report that it doesn’t expect to see negative free cash flow for its new fiscal year.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026
Investors widely expect the Bank of Japan to raise rates in the months ahead after holding them steady last week.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
Forecasters expect humidity levels will increase by Saturday, which could limit nighttime cooling and combine with warm temperatures to prompt another round of heat advisories.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
“You don’t really expect me to rat them out, do you?”
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
Notably, however, no one expects the intervention to have much staying power.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
County nonprofit that contracts with Head Start, expects child-to-teacher ratios to default to those already outlined for state preschool and general child care — if that guidance is left up to the state.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
Cassidy said he expects to learn more at the Future of Memory and Storage Summit this week in Silicon Valley.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026
Boeing has said it expects the MAX 10 to be certified in 2026.
From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026
“God merely expects us to do our own share of the perspiring for life’s bounty, Leah.”
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
In fairness, Kerkez is the only one of those who you can class as an expected starter for the season ahead.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
The water level there is expected to drop below 20 centimeters from the second half of this week, the German Waterways and Shipping Administration said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
She ate and drank what would be expected of someone exerting herself to the nth degree.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday dismissed his ambassador to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna, in a move that had been expected following a government reshuffle last month.
From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026
Ms. Washington turning out to be nothing like I expected had temporarily disrupted my assessment of the enemy and my plan, but not for long.
From "Ida B" by Katherine Hannigan
Analysts polled by FactSet were expecting $6.08 a share.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
"As scientists, we can get lost in planning our projects to the last detail and expecting things to go a certain way, so it was quite fun to see this unexpected result."
From Science Daily ● Aug. 3, 2026
"We are expecting a very big week, everyone is buzzing, can't wait."
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026
AI is still in the early phase of its promised transformation of the economy, with many investors expecting the technology to ultimately bring about a productivity boom, he said.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026
Chase switched on his headlamp, expecting to see another breach in the road.
From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
