expect

1 of 2

verb

ex·​pect ik-ˈspekt 

expected; expecting; expects

transitive verb

1

a

: to consider probable or certain

expect to be forgiven

expect that things will improve

b

: to consider reasonable, due, or necessary

expected hard work from the students

c

: to consider bound in duty or obligated

They expect you to pay your bills.

2

: to anticipate or look forward to the coming or occurrence of

We expect them any minute now.

I'm expecting a phone call.

3

informal : suppose, think

I expect they feel the same way.

4

archaic : await

intransitive verb

1

: to be pregnant : await the birth of one's child

—used in progressive tenses

she's expecting next month

2

: to look forward

3

archaic : wait, stay

expectable

ik-ˈspek-tə-bəl 

adjective

expectably

ik-ˈspek-tə-blē 

adverb

expectedly adverb

expectedness noun

expectedly

2 of 2

adverb

ex·​pect·​ed·​ly ik-ˈspek-təd-lē 

: in the expected manner : unsurprisingly

The first section, expectedly the largest of the three, has 11 stories of people whose enterprises make profits, but for whom profit is not the only driving force.

—Dharmendra D., Business World, 8 Aug. 2011

The Los Angeles Convention Center was, expectedly, adorned with large banners for games …

—Jeffrey L. Wilson, PC Magazine, 6 June 2011

expectedness

ik-ˈspek-təd-nəs 

noun

Don't get me wrong, the movie was as it is rated, for those aged 13, and completely predictable with semi-recognisable faces, but it's that expectedness and silliness that made it an enjoyable, mindless 89 minutes.

—Gulf Weekly, 26 Dec. 2012

Synonyms of expect

Verb

• anticipate
• await

Choose the Right Synonym for expect

expect, hope, look mean to await some occurrence or outcome.

expect implies a high degree of certainty and usually involves the idea of preparing or envisioning.

expects to be finished by Tuesday

hope implies little certainty but suggests confidence or assurance in the possibility that what one desires or longs for will happen.

hopes to find a job soon

look, with to, implies assurance that expectations will be fulfilled

looks to a tidy profit from the sale

; with for it implies less assurance and suggests an attitude of expectancy and watchfulness.

look for rain when the wind shifts to the northeast

Examples of expect in a Sentence

Verb

As expected, the election was very close.

It's expected that the new products will be available next month.

Prices are expected to rise.

He's opposed to the new law, as you might expect.

Good things sometimes happen when you least expect them.

I'm expecting a phone call.

The expected delivery date is next month.

He's a teacher who expects hard work from his students.

We expected more from you.

This is not the kind of behavior I expected of you.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Even in this setting where the president could reliably expect a warm reception, his entrance was met with a mix of cheers and boos. —Isaac Arnsdorf, Washington Post, 16 June 2026

Committee Chair Rhodesia Ransom, D-Tracy, said the Local Government Committee was expected to continue refining the measure and would also work with State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant to address the hobby rocketry concerns. —Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 16 June 2026

Investigators are expected to move the wreckage to a secure location for further examination after initial on-site documentation is complete. —Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 16 June 2026

The Athletic’s projection model still expects Spain to progress, though their chances of winning the group fell from 81 percent to 68 percent after Monday’s draw. —Thom Harris, New York Times, 16 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin exspectare to look forward to, from ex- + spectare to look at, frequentative of specere to look — more at spy

First Known Use

Verb

1560, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 3

Adverb

1758, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing expect

• expect the worst

Rhymes for expect

• affect
• aspect
• bedecked
• bisect
• collect
• connect
• correct
• deflect
• detect
• direct
• dissect
• effect

Kids Definition

expect

verb

ex·​pect ik-ˈspekt 

1

: to believe that something will occur and wait for it to happen

expect rain

expect her home soon

2

: suppose sense 3, think

who do you expect will win?

3

a

: to consider reasonable, due, or necessary

expect an honest day's work

b

: to consider obligated

expected you to pay your debts

expectable

-ˈspek-tə-bəl 

adjective

Etymology

Verb

from Latin expectare, exspectare "to look forward to," from ex- "out, forth" and spectare "to watch, look at," derived from specere "to look, look at" — related to auspice, spectacle

Medical Definition

expect

intransitive verb

ex·​pect ik-ˈspekt 

: to be pregnant : await the birth of one's child

—used in progressive tenses

she's expecting next month