expect
to look forward to; regard as likely to happen; anticipate the occurrence or the coming of: I expect to read it. I expect him later. She expects that they will come.
to look for with reason or justification: We expect obedience.
Informal. to suppose or surmise; guess: I expect that you are tired from the trip.
to anticipate the birth of (one's child): Paul and Sylvia expect their second very soon.
Idioms about expect
be expecting, to be pregnant: The cat is expecting again.
Origin of expect
1usage note For expect
Other words from expect
- ex·pect·a·ble, adjective
- ex·pect·a·bly, adverb
- ex·pect·ed·ly, adverb
- ex·pect·ed·ness, noun
- ex·pect·er, noun
- ex·pect·ing·ly, adverb
- o·ver·ex·pect, verb
- pre·ex·pect, verb (used with object)
- un·ex·pect·a·ble, adjective
- un·ex·pect·a·bly, adverb
- un·ex·pect·ing, adjective
- un·ex·pect·ing·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use expect in a sentence
Now how much money did you expect to win during the Jeopardy!
That said, analysts expect tech earnings to rise at a slower rate than earnings for the S&P 500 as a whole in 2021.
As expected, mice eating high-fat food gained weight and put on body fat.
Warning! Junk foods can harm a teen’s brain | Sharon Oosthoek | November 19, 2020 | Science News For StudentsWhen excess heat, humidity, and floods caused by climate change drive people elsewhere in India out of their homes, they can expect similar treatment.
In its current state, a lot of this roster looks like what you’d expect from a team with the majors’ third-lowest payroll.
Kim Ng’s Hiring Could Be The Start Of Something Special In Miami | Neil Paine (neil.paine@fivethirtyeight.com) | November 16, 2020 | FiveThirtyEight
The only thing I liked at first to do was to trace with slow and unexpecting step the narrow margin of the lake.
At Home And Abroad | Margaret Fuller OssoliThere was I know not what of stealthy joy about her thus creeping in to the unexpecting land.
The Complete Essays of John Galsworthy | John GalsworthyUnexpecting Dakota Joe's act, Wonota was not prepared for her mount's jump.
Ruth Fielding in the Great Northwest | Alice B. EmersonThe only thing I liked at first to do, was to trace with slow and unexpecting step the narrow margin of the lake.
Summer on the Lakes, in 1843 | S.M. FullerWas it the little possessive pronoun that sent the sudden thrill through the unexpecting wrist?
Mae Madden | Mary Murdoch Mason
British Dictionary definitions for expect
/ (ɪkˈspɛkt) /
to regard as probable or likely; anticipate: he expects to win
to look forward to or be waiting for: we expect good news today
to decide that (something) is requisite or necessary; require: the boss expects us to work late today
Origin of expect
1- See also expecting
Derived forms of expect
- expectable, adjective
- expectably, adverb
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with expect
see when least expected.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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