Definition of anticipatenext

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 Amid warnings that climate change means scorching temperatures are set to become the norm, some investors are rethinking how to prepare their portfolios for the societal changes anticipated alongside a future of sweltering summers. Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 27 June 2026 More release details are set to come soon, but it is anticipated to drop in late summer or early fall. Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 27 June 2026 Fortunately, anticipating the tastes of strangers has become something of a vocation. Natalie Hoberman, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026 Unlike past administrations, this administration never anticipated Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, even though some military leaders reportedly warned of that potential scenario. Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for anticipate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anticipate
Verb
  • State election officials do not expect the federal government to reliably share election threat information during the midterm elections, according to internal National Association of Secretaries of State documents obtained exclusively by USA TODAY.
    Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 28 June 2026
  • More than 40,000 Colombian fans were expected at the match and this time, nobody was crashing through the gates without tickets, as thousands did for the 2024 Copa America final against Argentina.
    Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 28 June 2026
Verb
  • Alas, the actor did not foresee his countrymen losing to Morocco 1-0 on June 19, but took the L in stride.
    Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026
  • The latter, on a break that stretched tired German legs, captured the story of a footballing mismatch few had foreseen.
    The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • Some end up at the Miami Federal Detention Center, which normally holds criminal defendants awaiting trial or sentencing.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 June 2026
  • The Mende awaited trial in New Haven, where local communities offered housing and legal aid.
    Calista Oetama, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • Analyst Jack Lu and his team at the bank predict sodium-ion batteries will account for 20% of total battery deployment market share by 2030 and 37% in 2035.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 28 June 2026
  • In some cases, like in Elk River, local utility companies are predicting positive impacts on utility rates thanks to data centers paying larger bills for services.
    Conor Wight, CBS News, 27 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Anticipate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anticipate. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.

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