Synonym Chooser

How is the word anticipate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of anticipate are divine, foreknow, and foresee. While all these words mean "to know beforehand," anticipate implies taking action about or responding emotionally to something before it happens.

the waiter anticipated our every need

How are the words divine and foresee related as synonyms of anticipate?

Divine adds to foresee the suggestion of exceptional wisdom or discernment.

was able to divine Europe's rapid recovery from the war

When would foreknow be a good substitute for anticipate?

Although the words foreknow and anticipate have much in common, foreknow usually implies supernatural assistance, as through revelation.

if only we could foreknow our own destinies

In what contexts can foresee take the place of anticipate?

The synonyms foresee and anticipate are sometimes interchangeable, but foresee implies nothing about how the knowledge is derived and may apply to ordinary reasoning and experience.

economists should have foreseen the recession

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of anticipate The Cowboys anticipate already having Parsons in the fold for the long haul by the time next offseason rolls around. Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 19 May 2025 The storms are anticipated to bring wind gusts of up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail (1 inch). Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 May 2025 At present, consensus estimates anticipate Zoom to announce earnings per share of $1.31 on revenues of $1.17 billion for the upcoming quarter. Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025 The memo anticipated a 15 percent drop in health care coverage among the 22 million people enrolled in individual or marketplace plans, amounting to another 3.3 million losing coverage. Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for anticipate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anticipate
Verb
  • Throughout a two-month trial, jurors are expected to hear testimony from three and possibly four of the rapper's female accusers, as well as ex-employees who prosecutors say helped arrange and cover up his actions.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 14 May 2025
  • Rain is also expected Tuesday, while higher temperatures and cloudy skies are anticipated later in the week.
    Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • Strand foresees Prime Video similarly educating NASCAR fans, though not every bell and whistle will be unveiled this weekend.
    Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 22 May 2025
  • Management foresees full-year EPS to be between $5.95 and $6.55, which is a slight decrease from $6.32 recorded the previous year, reflecting persistent competitive pressures.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
Verb
  • Outside what remains of a natural history museum Ellie climbs a T-Rex statue, but her real birthday treat awaits her inside.
    Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 May 2025
  • More takeaways from Dallas as the Stars await a conference finals rematch.
    Sam Settleman, New York Times, 18 May 2025
Verb
  • Ultimately, the company’s ambition is to build a computational model that captures the behaviours of every molecule inside a living cell and to predict how each of these molecules will change with health, disease or exposure to drugs.
    David Prosser, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
  • Scientists predict that within the next 15 years this ice cap will disappear in summer for the first time in millennia, accelerating global warming.
    Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Anticipate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anticipate. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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