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 In a new study, researchers have reported the successful progress of an eruption warning system that uses distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), which can anticipate volcanic activity through magma movements beneath the surface. Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 25 Apr. 2025 Walmart’s Rainey said at the investor day that the discounter anticipated April would be its strongest month of the quarter because of the timing of Easter. Melissa Repko,michael Wayland,leslie Josephs, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2025 Read the full Cancer Daily Horoscope Leo (July 23 - August 22) Stuck in the past or anticipating the future? Usa Today, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025 The previous seasons culminated in all-time excitement at the start of this campaign, which many considered the most anticipated in recent history. James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for anticipate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anticipate
Verb
  • White or black smoke could be expected around 7-8 p.m. local time (1-2 p.m. ET).
    Greta Cross, USA Today, 2 May 2025
  • As well as transgender women no longer being able to sit on public boards in places reserved for women, it is expected to shape social policymaking on issues such as public changing rooms and women-only spaces.
    Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • The storms are foreseen to bring wind gusts of up to 40 mph and marble-sized hail (0.5 inches).
    KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Wind gusts of up to 50 mph and marble-sized hail (0.5 inches) are foreseen.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The deal was extended for 90 days, as the companies await regulatory approval.
    Dawn Chmielewski, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • He was taken into custody Wednesday and remains in the Ocean County jail awaiting a detention hearing, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said in a post on Facebook.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Google is predicting a spike in search volumes this month for terms related to the recession that came to define the late 2000s.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Analysis predict the number of new vehicle registrations will fall due to the fluid nature of the current trade policy negotiations.
    Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Anticipate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anticipate. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on anticipate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!