expect

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verb ex·pect \ ik-ˈspekt \

Definition of expect

intransitive verb

1 archaic :wait, stay

2 :to look forward

3 :to be pregnant :await the birth of one's child —used in progressive tenses

she's expecting next month

transitive verb

1 archaic :await

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

we expect them any minute now

expected a telephone call

3 :suppose, think

4 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

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expectable

play \ik-ˈspek-tə-bəl\ adjective

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expectably

play \ik-ˈspek-tə-blē\ adverb

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expectedly

adverb

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expectedness

noun

See expect defined for English-language learners

See expect defined for kids

Examples of expect in a Sentence

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 of expect from the Web

Harvey is expected to track to the northeast and weaken to a depression by tonight.

— leigh morgan, AL.com, "Tropical Storm Harvey brings rain and risk of severe weather to Alabama," 30 Aug. 2017
Moreover, the cells can be made from the patients themselves, which is not expected to cause an immune reaction.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Brain cell replacement for Parkinson's boosted by monkey study," 30 Aug. 2017
Wednesday's open house is expected to accelerate the fundraising campaign.

— steve zimmerman, Daily Southtown, "Orland-area students getting an education in how to help," 30 Aug. 2017
Gas prices are expected to rise from 10 to 20 cents per gallon around the country, GasBuddy.com’s Patrick DeHaan told USA Today.

— michael katz, idahostatesman, "Noticed an increase at Idaho gas pumps? It’s not because of Hurricane Harvey ... yet," 30 Aug. 2017
Veteran team captains Parham, Mike Johnson and Dayvion Johnson, will anchor a defense that is expected to play big and have a great year.

— randy mcroberts, The Aegis, "2017 high school football preview," 30 Aug. 2017
The 2016 MVP of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl is expected to shine.

— manny navarro, miamiherald, "Can anybody in the SEC stop Alabama? Breaking down the conference," 29 Aug. 2017
With the storm expecting to cost at least $35 billion, many are comparing it to Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall in Louisiana 12 years ago on August 29, 2005.

— christina coleman, Essence.com, "This Is What Houston Looks Like After Hurricane Harvey," 29 Aug. 2017
Now a tropical storm, Harvey is expected to make landfall again in southwestern Louisiana on Wednesday. Bill Hanna: 817-390-7698, @fwhanna Never miss a local story.

— bill hanna, star-telegram, "In Corpus Christi, Trump meets with Abbott on hurricane response," 29 Aug. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of expect

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1560

See Words from the same year

expect Synonyms

Synonyms

anticipate, await, hope (for), watch (for), look for, look forward to

Related Words

bank on, count (on or upon), depend (on or upon), rely (on or upon), wait (for); envisage, envision, foresee; foretell, predict, prophesy; assume, presume, presuppose; contemplate, eye, view

Near Antonyms

doubt, question

Synonym Discussion of 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

EXPECT Defined for English Language Learners

expect

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verb

Definition of expect for English Language Learners

: to think that something will probably or certainly happen
: to think that (someone or something) will arrive or that (something) will happen
: to consider (something) to be reasonable, required, or necessary