expect

verb

ex·​pect ik-ˈspekt 

expected; expecting; expects

transitive verb

1

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

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

expectable

ik-ˈspek-tə-bəl 

adjective

expectably

ik-ˈspek-tə-blē 

adverb

expectedly adverb

expectedness noun

Synonyms

• anticipate
• await
• hope (for)
• watch (for)

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

Businesses expect executives to fly at different altitudes, toggling between 30,000-foot vision and strategy, and 30-foot project management, production and scale. —Sarah Davanzo, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2024

Then again, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, and don’t expect a torrent of F-bombs like that again. —Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024

Amazon says to expect steep discounts and exclusive offers on pet food, toys, supplies and accessories. —Tim Chan, Variety, 11 Apr. 2024

Economists were expecting that Americans would file 216,500 initial claims. —Alicia Wallace, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024

More homes are starting to come onto the market, but inventory is still tight and expected to remain so, according to forecasters. —Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024

Under the current system, leaders expect students to lose more than 12 million by the end of the year. —Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 11 Apr. 2024

The message here: There’s only so long the Heat can bang its head against a wall and expect to beat elite offensive teams without elite offensive talent of its own. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024

Momentum strategies buy the stocks that have performed the best over a past period, usually 12 months, and hold them, expecting outperformance to continue. —Bill Stone, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1560, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 3

Phrases Containing expect

• expect the worst

Kids Definition

expect

verb

ex·​pect ik-ˈspekt 

1

: to believe that something will occur and wait for it to happen

expect rain

expect her home soon

2

: suppose sense 3, think

who do you expect will win?

3

a

: to consider reasonable, due, or necessary

expect an honest day's work

b

: to consider obligated

expected you to pay your debts

expectable

-ˈspek-tə-bəl 

adjective

Etymology

from Latin expectare, exspectare "to look forward to," from ex- "out, forth" and spectare "to watch, look at," derived from specere "to look, look at" — related to auspice, spectacle

Medical Definition

expect

intransitive verb

ex·​pect ik-ˈspekt 

: to be pregnant : await the birth of one's child

—used in progressive tenses

she's expecting next month