anticipatory

adjective

an-ˈti-sə-pə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce anticipatory (audio)
Definition of anticipatorynext
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 anticipatory Young is making quick decisions and firing a lot of anticipatory balls before his receivers are even out of their cuts. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 Sep. 2026 Instead of requiring you to check it, the interface becomes conversational and anticipatory. — Antoine Sallis, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026 From response to anticipation The Loss and Damage Fund could also use its symbolic and modest financial position to nudge the broader humanitarian, development and climate finance ecosystem toward what’s known as anticipatory action. — Tarun Gopalakrishnan, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026 But building anticipatory buzz is one thing; paying it off is another. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for anticipatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anticipatory
  1. watchful
  2. expectant
  3. enthusiastic
  4. eager
  5. anxious
Adjective
  • Blink Indoor Camera Deal Keep a watchful eye on your indoor spaces using the Blink Mini 2K+ Indoor Camera.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Moments of anonymity were few and far between for Taylor, who was also under the watchful eye of Larry during that time.
    — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of watchful
Adjective
  • But on the night of September 3, 1997, the stakes were especially high for expectant parents.
    — Jane Bua, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
  • In her carousel post, the expectant mom shared several throwback photos of herself and Ruben from their wedding day.
    — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of expectant
Adjective
  • The tipster warned that a small number of enthusiastic residents tend to appear over and over in media coverage, skewing public perceptions.
    — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The pontiff and singer wore enthusiastic grins in a snapshot taken during an audience at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City.
    — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of enthusiastic
Adjective
  • California voters have rejected a first-in-the-nation tax on the net worth of billionaires following a contentious ballot fight that generated huge spending by some prominent tech leaders eager to stop their taxes from going up.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Nov. 2026
  • The console has already appeared at several maker events, where eager kids have punched and kicked its chunky buttons.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of eager
Adjective
  • Everyone’s inner monologue is narrated by no less than author Zadie Smith, whose voice-over’s cool assurance forms a productive contrast with the characters’ anxious scrambling.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Even so, a person calling about an arrest or a custody dispute is just as likely to be anxious, and a voice that sounds human but is not can feel like deception, whatever the law requires.
    — Hamid Kohan, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of anxious

Browse Nearby Words

anticipations
anticipatory
anticlimactic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Anticipatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anticipatory. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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