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expectation

[ ek-spek-tey-shuhn ]
/ ˌɛk spɛkˈteɪ ʃən /
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See synonyms for: expectation / expectations on Thesaurus.com
noun
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
candystring
candyfloss
candypuff
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Origin of expectation

1530–40; <Latin expectātiōn- (stem of expectātiō) an awaiting, equivalent to expectāt(us) (past participle of expectāre to expect) + -iōn--ion

OTHER WORDS FROM expectation

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH expectation

expectancy, expectation
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to expectation

assumption, chance, confidence, fear, forecast, hope, intention, likelihood, notion, outlook, possibility, prediction, promise, prospect, trust, view, apprehension, assurance, calculation, conjecture

British Dictionary definitions for expectation

expectation
/ (ˌɛkspɛkˈteɪʃən) /
noun
the act or state of expecting or the state of being expected
(usually plural) something looked forward to, whether feared or hoped forwe have great expectations for his future; their worst expectations
an attitude of expectancy or hope; anticipationto regard something with expectation
statistics
  1. the numerical probability that an event will occur
  2. another term for expected value

Derived forms of expectation

expectative (ɪkˈspɛktətɪv), adjective
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
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