as in anticipation
the act or state of looking forward to some occurrence in expectation of a harsh winter, we budgeted more money than usual for the cost of heating our home

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of expectation Gulden is known for his tendency to temper market expectations but the third-quarter results saw Adidas raise guidance. Cathrin Schaer, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2025 Its intimacy and its sparseness connect with a younger generation far beyond expectations, making its centrality in the Glee episode feel prescient. Alan Light, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2025 Tuesday’s clips played on that history, with the person behind the camera catching Carey at various points throughout her day, with the expectation of hearing that Christmastime jingle. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2025 Hunt did not provide an exact timeline for that expectation, nor has the team. Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for expectation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expectation
Noun
  • The anticipation is he will be brought in by the police before next week’s hearing.
    Dominic Patten, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
  • With 100 days to go until the opening ceremony, anticipation is building for the Winter Olympic Games, set to span the Northern Italian cities of Milan and Cortina from February 6–22, 2026.
    Nick Remsen, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The researchers used a waitlist rather than an active control group, so results could partly reflect expectancy or placebo effects.
    New Atlas, 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Expectation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expectation. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on expectation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!