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

The expectation is that this will give him a prominent role in public life for as long as he is alive.

Read more on BBC

Traders also await a series of delayed economic reports, including September jobs data slated to be published Nov. 20, that will shape expectations for the Federal Reserve’s next meeting in December.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Much of this was driven by expectations of lower Bank of England interest rates amid a weakening jobs market.

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CFO Hugh Johnston said that when it comes to determining the company’s financial forecast, “we built a hedge into that with the expectation that these discussions could go for a little while.”

Read more on Barron's

At the same time, Moody’s said that expectations of a lighter touch from financial regulators adds some risk to the banking sector.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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