as in watchful
having or showing signs of eagerly awaiting something
couldn't control his anticipatory excitement on Christmas morning
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of anticipatory
In 2025, some Central Florida municipalities increased service fees — such as fire and stormwater fees — in part as an anticipatory measure of losing property tax revenue.
—
Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
These Instagram pages offer a way to reach out before ever arriving on campus, potentially assuaging anticipatory worry and first-day awkwardness.
—Mary Frances Ruskell, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
And also the anticipatory obedience by a lot of these news organizations who are more timid.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026
Rodriguez is a smart, anticipatory playmaker whose best trait is seeing the game a beat ahead of everyone else.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for anticipatory
Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
These Instagram pages offer a way to reach out before ever arriving on campus, potentially assuaging anticipatory worry and first-day awkwardness.
—Mary Frances Ruskell, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
And also the anticipatory obedience by a lot of these news organizations who are more timid.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026
Rodriguez is a smart, anticipatory playmaker whose best trait is seeing the game a beat ahead of everyone else.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for anticipatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anticipatory
Adjective
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Being aware of them and keeping a watchful eye on your power strip and its current condition could protect you and your home in the long run.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
16 May 2026
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Jason, 28, is nonverbal and profoundly disabled, with significant cognitive limitations and little awareness of danger — vulnerabilities that require constant, watchful care.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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On his Instagram Stories, Cole posted a picture of the expectant parents, simply adding three red heart emojis.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
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The last snap in the carousel was the expectant parents making the same hand motion, which Palvin echoed in the comments.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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The crowd was enthusiastic and somewhat glassy-eyed, and people lined up patiently to buy records and merchandise, and to get a chance to meet Rashad.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
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Firebird Tours has also been an enthusiastic adopter of new technology and created a custom trip builder and travel app.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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Why the Sedins would be eager to take on this challenge, this greater level of responsibility and legacy-threatening scrutiny that will come attached to it, at this low point in franchise history, is beyond me.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
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The period setting demands a degree of authenticity that Dhont was eager to execute.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
12 May 2026
Adjective
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That’s a lot of anxious energy surrounding a screening of a 55-year-old film that hasn’t been hard to see — in one form or another — in recent times.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
17 May 2026
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Now, the Tiki Social at the Omni may be driving another escape, from our anxious times to the fantasy island life.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anticipatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anticipatory. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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