expectation

[ek-spek-tey-shuhn]

noun

1. the act or the state of expecting.

   to wait in expectation.

2. the act or state of looking forward or anticipating.

   Synonyms: trust, hope, anticipation, expectancy

3. an expectant mental attitude.

   a high pitch of expectation.

4. something expected; a thing looked forward to.

5. Often expectations. a prospect of future good or profit.

   to have great expectations.

6. the degree of probability that something will occur.

   There is little expectation that he will come.

7. Mathematics, Statistics.,  mathematical expectation.

8. the state of being expected.

   a large sum of money in expectation.

expectation

/ ˌɛkspɛkˈteɪʃən, ɪkˈspɛktətɪv /

noun

1. the act or state of expecting or the state of being expected

2. (usually plural) something looked forward to, whether feared or hoped for

   we have great expectations for his future

   their worst expectations

3. an attitude of expectancy or hope; anticipation

   to regard something with expectation

4. statistics

   1. the numerical probability that an event will occur

   2. another term for expected value

Other Word Forms

• expectational adjective
• expectationist noun
• overexpectation noun
• preexpectation noun
• superexpectation noun
• expectative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of expectation¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin ex(s)pectātiōn-, stem of ex(s)pectātiō “anticipation, suspense,” from ex(s)pectāt(us) (past participle of ex(s)pectāre “to look out for, await”) + -iō -ion; expect

Example Sentences

Portfolio managers chalked up the sudden turnaround for small caps to rising expectations that the Federal Reserve will deliver another interest-rate cut next month.

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Portfolio managers chalked up the sudden turnaround for small caps to rising expectations that the Federal Reserve will deliver another interest-rate cut next month.

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Industry forecasters predict a pickup in home sales in 2026, with varying expectations for mortgage rates and price changes.

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The results themselves were a mixed bag, with some topping analysts’ earnings expectations and others falling short.

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These conversations have reinforced the idea that the people who gathered at Poverty Point were guided by sacred motivations that do not align with modern expectations of material gain.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

• assumption 
• chance 
• confidence 
• fear 
• forecast 
• hope 
• intention 
• likelihood 
• notion 
• outlook 
• possibility 
• prediction 
• promise 
• prospect 
• trust 
• view