1
: a feeling of excitement about something that is going to happen
She had a feeling of great anticipation before her graduation ceremony.
He looked forward to the party with anticipation.
The actor's fans were trembling with/in anticipation [=excitement] when his limousine drove up.
2
: the act of preparing for something
They hired extra police officers in anticipation of a big crowd [=because they expected a big crowd] at the concert.
Cite this Entry
“Anticipation.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/anticipation. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.
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