anticipate
verb (used with object)
to realize beforehand; foretaste or foresee.
had been anticipating
-
past perfect progressiveof anticipate.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
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.
Iranian officials, who had been anticipating the move, pushed back on Washington’s strategy even before Bessent began speaking Monday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026
Market reaction was muted as investors had been anticipating rising issuance.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 18, 2025
Mr Lund acknowledged that the decision might look abrupt, noting that up until now it had been anticipating a slower succession timeline.
From BBC ● May 16, 2025
For weeks, everyone had been anticipating a Hezbollah counterstrike.
From Slate ● Aug. 28, 2024
All winter, we had been anticipating snow—everyone kept saying how strange it was that we hadn’t had any yet—but I’d never heard anything about falling ice.
From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez
