as in anticipation
the act or state of looking forward to some occurrence
that feeling of optimistic expectancy that fills theatergoers as they wait for the curtain to rise
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Recent Examples of expectancy
In fact, there’s research to suggest that expectancy violations are even more crucial in female friendships.
—
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The petition seeks a jury trial and damages exceeding $25,000 for each count, including claims of discrimination, retaliation, defamation, invasion of privacy and interference with contract or business expectancy.
—Benjamin Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 20 Dec. 2025
The researchers used a waitlist rather than an active control group, so results could partly reflect expectancy or placebo effects.
—New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2025
Columbia also scored high in the health category, with women in the city enjoying the 10th-best life expectancy at birth.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expectancy
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The petition seeks a jury trial and damages exceeding $25,000 for each count, including claims of discrimination, retaliation, defamation, invasion of privacy and interference with contract or business expectancy.
—Benjamin Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 20 Dec. 2025
The researchers used a waitlist rather than an active control group, so results could partly reflect expectancy or placebo effects.
—New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2025
Columbia also scored high in the health category, with women in the city enjoying the 10th-best life expectancy at birth.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expectancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expectancy
Noun
-
After weeks of anticipation and a stream-it-while-you-can leak it, Johnny Blue Skies has officially released his latest album, Mutiny After Midnight.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
13 Mar. 2026
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Prior to the conflict, the market anticipation had been for a quarter percentage point rate reduction in June, likely another one in September, and an outside chance of even three depending on how the economics played out, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch calculations.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The seven-part limited series, which aired its second episode Sunday, subverts expectations at every turn, from its peculiar characters to the layered storytelling of writer-showrunner-director Steven Conrad to the nuanced performances of an enviable cast.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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Inflation fears have led traders to scale back expectations for the Federal Reserve’s next quarter-point rate cut to September.—
Marcus Wong,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expectancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expectancy. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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