as in anticipation
the act or state of looking forward to some occurrence
in expectation of a harsh winter, we budgeted more money than usual for the cost of heating our home
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Recent Examples of expectation
The storm lived up to expectations, slamming the city with more than 15 inches of snow.
—
Matt Schooley, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
During the closing minutes of the women’s figure skating free skate last Thursday, the American was hugging and consoling two Japanese competitors whose results fell short of their respective expectations.
—Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Some candidates defied common ideological expectations.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
Anna worked with John Ruggie at Harvard Kennedy School on the development of the 2011 UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which forms the basis for legal expectations of companies in the field of human rights.
—Anna Triponel, Sourcing Journal, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expectation
Matt Schooley, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
During the closing minutes of the women’s figure skating free skate last Thursday, the American was hugging and consoling two Japanese competitors whose results fell short of their respective expectations.
—Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Some candidates defied common ideological expectations.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
Anna worked with John Ruggie at Harvard Kennedy School on the development of the 2011 UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which forms the basis for legal expectations of companies in the field of human rights.
—Anna Triponel, Sourcing Journal, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expectation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expectation
Noun
-
Democratic candidates are already lining up in anticipation.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Democratic candidates are already lining up in anticipation.—
Olivia Diaz,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Every year, Team USA distributes millions in grants to its individual sport governing bodies, with the biggest chunk distributed based on medal expectancy and future athlete development.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
19 Feb. 2026
-
But in a clinical trial, that experience can be a liability as outcomes can be sensitive to expectancy bias.—
Ian Reardon,
STAT,
2 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expectation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expectation. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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