Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

anticipate

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of anticipate

1 to believe in the future occurrence of (something)
  • I anticipate that we'll be seeing you for New Year's.
Synonyms of anticipate

await, expect, hope (for), watch (for)
Words Related to anticipate

bank on, count (on or upon), depend (on or upon), rely (on or upon), wait (for)

envisage, envision, foresee

foretell, predict, prophesy

assume, presume, presuppose

contemplate, eye, view
Phrases Synonymous with anticipate

look for, look forward to
Near Antonyms of anticipate

doubt, question
2 to realize or know about beforehand
  • I anticipated this unhelpful response.
Synonyms of anticipate

divine, foreknow, foresee, prevision
Words Related to anticipate

augur, forecast, foretell, predict, presage, prognosticate, prophesy

envisage, envision, foreshadow, prefigure, visualize

alert, caution, foretoken, forewarn

preview

descry, discern, perceive

apprehend, dread, fear

Synonym Discussion of anticipate

foresee, foreknow, divine, anticipate mean to know beforehand. foresee implies nothing about how the knowledge is derived and may apply to ordinary reasoning and experience.
    • economists should have foreseen the recession
foreknow usually implies supernatural assistance, as through revelation.
    • if only we could foreknow our own destinies
divine adds to foresee the suggestion of exceptional wisdom or discernment.
    • was able to divine Europe's rapid recovery from the war
anticipate implies taking action about or responding emotionally to something before it happens.
    • the waiter anticipated our every need

Learn More about anticipate

  1. See words that rhyme with anticipate Dictionary: Definition of anticipate Medical Dictionary: Definition of anticipate Spanish Central: Translation of anticipate Nglish: Translation of anticipate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of anticipate for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up anticipate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games