expect
verb (used with object)
to look forward to; regard as likely to happen; anticipate the occurrence or the coming of.
was expecting
-
past progressiveof expect.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
He was expecting to spend the fall plugging his latest book, “Mémoires provisoires,” or “Provisional Memoirs,” which was published in France last month.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
They got engaged in August 2024 and in December 2025, Meyer announced she was expecting her third child.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
However, he said the company behind the Grok AI chatbot was expecting to have another 220,000 GB300s operational by the following week and an additional 220,000 units in November.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026
It was the day for the routine 34-week scan for the twins he was expecting with his wife, Naomi.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
“It’s not like that. You took him by surprise. I don’t think he was expecting a champion foosball player, or that said champion would be his girlfriend’s guy friend.”
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
