expectant 1 of 2

Definition of expectantnext
1
as in eager
having or showing signs of eagerly awaiting something expectant crowds gathered at the spot where the President was scheduled to make an appearance

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2
as in pregnant
containing unborn young within the body a medication that should not be taken by expectant women without permission from their doctors

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expectant

2 of 2

noun

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 expectant
Adjective
In Chicago, an entire franchise teeters on Bedard’s shoulders, with his youthful teammates propping up that expectant weight. Dan Robson, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026 For expectant parents, that can mean safer deliveries and more confident medical teams in the room. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Mar. 2026
Noun
Meniscus augur & hour of errors as the mercury rag spills its rings from his last good pore, his teeth shaped in greenhouse suet or little expectant pots of orchid balm in snow. Michael D. Snediker, The Atlantic, 10 Aug. 2025 In the end, this expectant father learned a valuable — and slightly embarrassing — lesson: sometimes, the best thing to say during a poignant moment is nothing at all. Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 28 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for expectant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expectant
Adjective
  • Trump had used the act to plaster taxes on imports with eager abandon.
    Paul Wiseman, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Kay isn’t some kind of unhinged chaos agent or emotional thrill-seeker (well, maybe just a little), but rather an adventurous artist eager to dig deep beneath the surface.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The pregnant body, unhidden Bolton argues that the pregnant body has either been ignored or stereotyped in art.
    Jocelyn Noveck, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
  • Certain groups — including pregnant women, parents of young children and people with disabilities — are exempt from the work requirements.
    Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • Two other candidates, tech entrepreneur Adam Miller and community organizer Rae Huang, criticized NBC4’s decision to exclude them from the debate.
    David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
  • Several of the candidates have been arrested for the posts.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 7 May 2026
Adjective
  • During construction, the Feins purchased the house next door and lived there, keeping a watchful eye on the work.
    Sara B. Hansen, Denver Post, 2 May 2026
  • Viktor Arvidsson, who was knocked woozy and out of the lineup on a high hit from the Sabres’ Mattias Samuelsson in Game 4, was skating under the watchful eye of skating and skills coach John McLean at Warrior Ice Arena on Friday morning.
    Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • There are six hopefuls vying to replace Price, including one of his longtime aides, a candidate backed by the Democratic Socialists of America and a hopeful supported by Mayor Karen Bass.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
  • Netflix has released a handful of its films into theaters for a limited run, including the Knives Out films from Rian Johnson and other awards hopefuls.
    Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 1 May 2026
Adjective
  • After the Met announced the Bezoses’ participation, many social media users — who are the Met Gala’s most enthusiastic promoters, tuning into Vogue’s livestream and analyzing looks for days afterwards — called for a boycott.
    Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
  • Most Californians are no doubt still rightly enthusiastic about protecting our coastline treasures.
    Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • To qualify for the program, applicants must have an industrial site of at least 30 contiguous acres of land that is listed on the Arkansas Site Selection Database and that is owned or optioned by the applicant.
    The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 28 Apr. 2026
  • The Cato report found that in all, total green card approvals under USCIS, the agency in charge of processing immigration benefits, had been cut in half for applicants from all countries.
    Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • In 2025, some Central Florida municipalities increased service fees — such as fire and stormwater fees — in part as an anticipatory measure of losing property tax revenue.
    Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
  • These Instagram pages offer a way to reach out before ever arriving on campus, potentially assuaging anticipatory worry and first-day awkwardness.
    Mary Frances Ruskell, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Expectant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expectant. Accessed 9 May. 2026.

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