Synonyms

expect

American

[ik-spekt] / ɪkˈspɛkt /

verb (used with object)

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.
to look for with reason or justification.

We expect obedience.
Informal. to suppose or surmise; guess.

I expect that you are tired from the trip.
to anticipate the birth of (one's child).

Paul and Sylvia expect their second very soon.

idioms

be expecting, to be pregnant.

The cat is expecting again.

expect British

/ ɪkˈspɛkt /

verb

to regard as probable or likely; anticipate

he expects to win
to look forward to or be waiting for

we expect good news today
to decide that (something) is requisite or necessary; require

the boss expects us to work late today

"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

expect More Idioms

see when least expected.

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

expectable adjective
expectably adverb
expectedly adverb
expectedness noun
expecter noun
expectingly adverb
overexpect verb
preexpect verb (used with object)
unexpectable adjective
unexpectably adverb
unexpecting adjective
unexpectingly adverb

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; spectacle

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.

“We don’t expect to see this massive influx of home buyers, especially while mortgage rates are above 6%,” said Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com.

From The Wall Street Journal

A Pineapple Express storm is expected to bring several inches of rain and high winds into the region between Tuesday and Saturday, possibly causing flooding, mudslides and other hazards.

From Los Angeles Times

The peak of the system is expected Tuesday through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

From Los Angeles Times

Tuition fees in England will rise from 2026 onwards, so we expect that those starting university in 2026 will have higher fees.

From BBC

The amount of energy lost, or dissipated, inside Titan turned out to be far greater than expected if a global liquid ocean were present.

From Science Daily

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023