expectation

American  

[ek-spek-tey-shuhn] / ˌɛk spɛkˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

• expectations
  plural

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.

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expectation British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• expectations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of expectation

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; see expect

Explanation

An expectation is a belief about what might happen in the future, like your expectation to stay close with your best friends your whole life. The word expectation comes from the Latin word expectationem, meaning "an awaiting." If you have great expectations, you think something good will come your way, but if keep your expectations low, you won't risk being disappointed. Expectation can also describe something that is supposed to happen, like a teacher whose expectation is that everyone comes to class prepared.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

expectation expectations

If you’re an up-and-coming quarterback, there has to be an extra layer of pressure and expectation if your father played the position at an elite level.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

Sure, there’s slightly more concern than a couple of months ago, but the bond market’s expectation of inflation, known as the break-even rate, isn’t particularly elevated and remains close to the Fed’s 2% goal.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

“Bottom line, I like treating this weakness as an opportunity rather than a warning, with my expectation being for a push back to new highs before a choppier period materializes into September,” he says.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026

Talks are continuing though and the expectation is the transfer will get done.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

Alice and Nellie had written to their mother repeatedly while in Holmes’s custody and had given the letters to Holmes with the expectation that he would mail them.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Others worried it could backfire in part by raising expectations that the Treasury Department will intervene anytime yields rise past certain key level—expectations that could be hard for Bessent to meet.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

The company cited failing to meet ESG expectations as a key risk factor in its IPO paperwork.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026

“People’s expectations are increasingly misaligned with what the apps are actually telling you, and with what weather prediction can tell you in the first place,” he told me.

From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026

Now the expectations are rising following their third-place finish, but they are nowhere near Arsenal at the moment.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

For the first time in many years, I’m unhooked from any obligation as a political spouse, unencumbered by other people’s expectations.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Related Words

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