expect

verb

ex·pect | \ ik-ˈspekt

expected; expecting; expects

Definition of expect

transitive verb

1a : 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 expected a telephone call

3 : suppose, think

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

Other Words from expect Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about expect

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Other Words from expect

expectable \ ik-ˈspek-tə-bəl

\ adjective

expectably \ ik-ˈspek-tə-blē

\ adverb

expectedly adverb

expectedness noun

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

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

Users can expect to find a USB 3.1, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, an audio jack, and a fingerprint reader on the Yoga C930. — Paige Szmodis, Popular Mechanics, "The Best Touchscreen Laptops of 2019," 30 Apr. 2019 Again, expect that lower price to be for GTX 1650 laptops. — Brad Chacos, PCWorld, "Nvidia's mobile GeForce GTX 1650 and GTX 1660 Ti give affordable gaming laptops more firepower," 23 Apr. 2019 The State Department is expected to announce the end of waivers for countries to import Iranian oil on Monday, part of the Trump administration’s effort to drive Iran’s exports to zero, people familiar with the decision said. — Jessica Donati, WSJ, "U.S. to End Iran Oil Waivers to Drive Tehran’s Exports to Zero," 22 Apr. 2019 Throughout California's hiking trails at Mammoth Lakes in the Sierra Nevada mountains, like the Agnew Meadows Wildflower Loop and the Mammoth Mountain Trail, crazy beautiful flowers are expected to bloom once the weather gets even hotter. — Elizabeth Gulino, House Beautiful, "California is Having Another Lesser Known Super Bloom—This Time in The Mountains," 17 Apr. 2019 As an expeditionary force, the U.S. Marine Corps is expected to operate in distant, faraway places with little support from the other services. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Watch a Marine Corps Helicopter Lift Another Marine Helicopter," 15 Apr. 2019 Hwang’s office said a parliamentary committee discussion and a public hearing on the issue are expected in coming months. — Hyung-jin Kim, The Seattle Times, "S. Korean babies born Dec. 31 become 2-year-olds next day," 13 Apr. 2019 Getty Images Meghan Markle is expected to give birth any day now. The Duke and Duchess are choosing not to show their baby to the world at the hospital, instead exiting privately. — Rachel Epstein, Marie Claire, "Why Baby Sussex Won't Make a Hospital Appearance Like George, Charlotte, and Louis," 11 Apr. 2019 The official announcement of the trip is expected to come in the next few days. — Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, "Queen Elizabeth Will Reportedly Invite President Trump for a State Visit This Summer," 8 Apr. 2019

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.

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Dictionary Entries near expect

Statistics for expect

Last Updated

11 May 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for expect

The first known use of expect was in 1560

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More Definitions for expect

expect

verb

English Language Learners Definition of expect

: 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

See the full definition for expect in the English Language Learners Dictionary

expect

verb

ex·pect | \ ik-ˈspekt

expected; expecting

Kids Definition of expect

1 : to think that something probably will be or happen They expect rain. Close up the motorcycle looked even better than he expected.— Beverly Cleary, The Mouse and the Motorcycle

2 : to await the arrival of We're expecting guests.

3 : to consider to be obliged I expect you to pay your debts.

4 : to consider reasonable, due, or necessary I expect your attention.