as in watchful
having or showing signs of eagerly awaiting something
couldn't control his anticipatory excitement on Christmas morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of anticipatory
While much of health-care hiring is driven by necessity, anticipatory hiring is picking up in retail and transportation for employers to get ahead of the holiday shopping season, signaling that businesses expect consumer spending to be strong through the rest of the year.
—
Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025
In the meantime, the musician is setting the anticipatory bar high.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2025
Some of the behavior of the economy in the 2nd quarter was anticipatory, and transitory.
—George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Over the last half-billion years, squid, octopuses and their kin have evolved much like a fireworks display, with long, anticipatory pauses interspersed with intense, explosive changes.
—Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anticipatory
Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025
In the meantime, the musician is setting the anticipatory bar high.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2025
Some of the behavior of the economy in the 2nd quarter was anticipatory, and transitory.
—George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Over the last half-billion years, squid, octopuses and their kin have evolved much like a fireworks display, with long, anticipatory pauses interspersed with intense, explosive changes.
—Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anticipatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anticipatory
Adjective
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Richards, along with two fellow runners (played by Katy O’Brian and Please Don’t Destroy’s Martin Herlihy), must avoid the surveillance state’s ever-watchful eyes, stay hidden, keep on the move.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
11 Nov. 2025
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The two temporarily set up shop in the ladies’ Miami home to keep a watchful eye on the neighbors, who were suspected of being jewelry thieves.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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In the clip, the expectant mom sets up the camera before calling everyone together to deliver the news.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
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Dayne is really expectant of himself in those moments.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Obama’s enthusiastic showings for both candidates was a test of whether his sway over the Democratic Party still remains after his support for Harris failed to boost her to the White House a year ago and angered black male voters who felt unfairly accused of sexism.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Nov. 2025
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Thornton did not respond to our request for comment on this story, but IndieWire found proof of public interactions Bolea had with the actor, positioning them as enthusiastic supporters of each other’s work at a time when love for Art the Clown was spreading quickly.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The evil-doing in question is simple enough, at least for a franchise that has always been built around the existence of a clandestine organization of magicians (The Eye) who love using their skills to take down bad guys and quite literally share the wealth with their eager audiences.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
11 Nov. 2025
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Ghana has been one of the first countries to make major Article 6 sales, and some other African nations are eager to follow, Ali Mohamed, Kenya’s special climate envoy, told Semafor.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The self-laceration is done on Damon Albarn Time, though, as Idles’ usual anxious guitar rave-ups are slowed and stripped here to a skipping, reggae-ish crawl, as synths squeak in the background and Albarn offers support via his forever-distant, disembodied backing vocals.—
Andrew Unterberger,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
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Obviously, Meghan’s anxious about it.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anticipatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anticipatory. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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