anticipation

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noun an·tic·i·pa·tion \ (ˌ)an-ˌti-sə-ˈpā-shən \

Definition of anticipation

1 a :a prior action that takes into account or forestalls a later action

hired more security guards in anticipation of a large crowd

b :the act of looking forward; especially :pleasurable expectation

looked forward with anticipation to their arrival

2 :the use of money before it is available

3 a :visualization of a future event or state

b :an object or form that anticipates a later type

4 :the early sounding of one or more tones of a succeeding chord to form a temporary dissonance — compare suspension

See anticipation defined for English-language learners

See anticipation defined for kids

Examples of anticipation in a Sentence

She had a feeling of great anticipation before her graduation ceremony.
He looked forward to the party with anticipation.

Recent Examples of anticipation from the Web

That includes close to $1.6 billion worth of tax anticipation notes — a maneuver akin to a payday loan because the district borrows cash off the value of property tax money that eventually will arrive in its coffers.

— juan perez jr., chicagotribune.com, "Chicago school board president says state funding deal would do 'wonders' for district's finances," 28 Aug. 2017
Arizona Transportation Board, $63.1 million of grant anticipation notes.

— New York Times, "Treasury Auctions Set for the Week of Aug. 28," 27 Aug. 2017
Draghi might choose to wait until the ECB meets next month to communicate any policy shift, in part out of concern that the euro’s value has already risen in anticipation of an ECB move and thereby made European exports costlier.

— martin crutsinger, The Seattle Times, "A puzzle for central bankers: Solid growth but low inflation," 24 Aug. 2017
The anticipation became so great that David Ficklin, the club’s vice president for development, found his schedule clogged with tours.

— sam mcdowell, kansascity, "The evolution of a fan base: Sporting KC to reach 100 straight sellouts Saturday," 18 Aug. 2017
Their first tip-off was even earlier—four years ago, when a travel agency called Continental Capers bought out the entire Inn at Cross Keys in anticipation of this year’s event.

— hannah elliott, Bloomberg.com, "A Tiny Oregon Town Is Prepping to Be Ground Zero for Eclipse Tourism," 20 July 2017
With no official announcement of a seventh album in sight, Elliott has spent the last couple years releasing singles and videos at a sparse rate, each time stirring the pot of anticipation for more.

— AL.com, "These are the women in southern hip-hop you should know," 14 July 2017
The Kansas Organization of State Employees has argued the state is moving inmates out of Lansing in anticipation of the demolition and construction.

— jonathan shorman and hunter woodall, kansascity, "Short-staffed Kansas prisons raise safety fears, cost taxpayers for overtime," 14 July 2017
The statement pointed to anticipation that the bill will be poorly received by the Democrats and the media.

— darius sadighi, Teen Vogue, "Republican Senators Are Moving to Replace the Affordable Care Act By Next Week," 13 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'anticipation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of anticipation

see anticipate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

anticipation Synonyms

Synonyms

expectation, contemplation, expectance, expectancy, prospect

Related Words

alarm (also alarum), apprehension, dread, foreboding, misgiving

Synonym Discussion of anticipation

prospect, outlook, anticipation, foretaste mean an advance realization of something to come. prospect implies expectation of a particular event, condition, or development of definite interest or concern.

- the prospect of a quiet weekend

outlook suggests a forecasting of the future.

- a favorable outlook for the economy

anticipation implies a prospect or outlook that involves advance suffering or enjoyment of what is foreseen.

- the anticipation of her arrival

foretaste implies an actual though brief or partial experience of something forthcoming.

- the frost was a foretaste of winter

ANTICIPATION Defined for English Language Learners

anticipation

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noun

Definition of anticipation for English Language Learners

: a feeling of excitement about something that is going to happen
: the act of preparing for something

ANTICIPATION Defined for Kids

anticipation

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noun an·tic·i·pa·tion \ an-ˌti-sə-ˈpā-shən \

Definition of anticipation for Students

1 :excitement about something that's going to happen

She looked forward to the trip with anticipation.

2 :the act of preparing for something

Medical Dictionary

anticipation

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noun an·tic·i·pa·tion \ (ˌ)an-ˌtis-ə-ˈpā-shən \

medical Definition of anticipation

1 :occurrence (as of a disease or symptom) before the normal or expected time

2 :mental attitude that influences a later response

Law Dictionary

anticipation

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noun an·ti·ci·pa·tion \ an-ˌti-sə-ˈpā-shən \

legal Definition of anticipation

:the knowledge or use of an invention in the U.S. or the patenting or describing of the invention in a publication in the U.S. or a foreign country before the discovery by a patent applicant

Note: Case law has established that every claim or element of a claim has to be disclosed in the prior art in order for a patent application to be barred by anticipation. If an application is amended to consist of claims not disclosed in the prior art, invalidation by anticipation can be avoided.