Synonyms of anticipate

anticipate

verb

an-ˈti-sə-ˌpāt 

1

as in to expect

to believe in the future occurrence of (something)

I anticipate that we'll be seeing you for New Year's

Synonyms & Similar Words

• expect
• await
• predict
• foresee
• hope (for)
• watch (for)
• look for
• look forward to
• view
• envision
• assume
• rely (on or upon)
• wait (for)
• depend (on or upon)
• envisage
• count (on or upon)
• presume
• contemplate
• foretell
• eye
• presuppose
• bank on
• prophesy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• question
• doubt

2

as in to foresee

to realize or know about beforehand

I anticipated this unhelpful response

Synonyms & Similar Words

• foresee
• predict
• fear
• divine
• envision
• perceive
• dread
• foreknow
• forecast
• envisage
• prevision
• visualize
• foretell
• presage
• forefeel
• prognosticate
• foreshadow
• prophesy
• alert
• discern
• forewarn
• prefigure
• apprehend
• caution
• augur
• preview
• foretoken
• descry

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

Recent Examples of anticipate

With California anticipating a particularly hot summer, the dashboard’s data highlight troubling disparities. —Marcos Magaña, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025

Severe debris flows can also be anticipated across roads. —Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025

According to Deignan, Bonbon Bakeshop is anticipated to open at 5023 Oakton Street in the next several months, offering boutique chocolates, baked goods and gelato. —Richard Requena, Chicago Tribune, 24 June 2025

The National Retail Federation also anticipated skyrocketing prices on clothing, household appliances, furniture and more. —Dryden Pence, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025