Synonyms of anticipation

anticipation

noun

(ˌ)an-ˌti-sə-ˈpā-shən 

as in expectation

the act or state of looking forward to some occurrence

in anticipation of a job offer, she had already begun looking for an apartment in the city where the company was based

Synonyms & Similar Words

• expectation
• expectancy
• expectance
• contemplation
• prospect
• dread
• apprehension
• alarm
• foreboding
• misgiving

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun anticipation differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of anticipation are foretaste, outlook, and prospect. While all these words mean "an advance realization of something to come," anticipation implies a prospect or outlook that involves advance suffering or enjoyment of what is foreseen.

the anticipation of her arrival

When is it sensible to use foretaste instead of anticipation?

While the synonyms foretaste and anticipation are close in meaning, foretaste implies an actual though brief or partial experience of something forthcoming.

the frost was a foretaste of winter

In what contexts can outlook take the place of anticipation?

In some situations, the words outlook and anticipation are roughly equivalent. However, outlook suggests a forecasting of the future.

a favorable outlook for the economy

When could prospect be used to replace anticipation?

Although the words prospect and anticipation have much in common, prospect implies expectation of a particular event, condition, or development of definite interest or concern.

the prospect of a quiet weekend

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of anticipation

Capitalizing on massive pre-release anticipation and extensive preview screenings, the film has amassed a cumulative gross of $16 million from 2,129,723 total admissions. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 20 July 2026

With the baseball trade deadline just two weeks away, as always there is much anticipation for a gusher of course-changing deals that could ultimately decide which teams go deep into October. — Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 18 July 2026

The New Museum’s $82 million expansion, designed by OMA partners Rem Koolhaas and Shohei Shigematsu, opened to the public in March after high anticipation—and several postponements. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 18 July 2026

As soon as Tony and Carol realized Jackson was right in front of them, months of anticipation came pouring out in an instant. — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026