expectant 1 of 2

adjective

ik-ˈspek-tənt How to pronounce expectant (audio)
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

expectant

2 of 2

noun

as in candidate
one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award divinity students who were all expectants for a curacy

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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
By pairing digital manufacturer coupons with store promotional events, Wheeler shares that expectant parents can build a year’s supply across multiple sizes at 50% off before their baby even arrives. — Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 31 July 2026 That feature allows expectant parents to include costly essentials on their registries without asking one person to cover the full price. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 22 July 2026
Noun
But for the design-minded expectants, choosing items for the registry can feel like a compromise between function and aesthetics. — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 24 June 2026 In another post, the expectant mom shared some behind-the-scenes footage from her maternity shoot. — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for expectant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expectant
  1. eager
  2. pregnant
  3. candidate
  4. watchful
  5. hopeful
  6. enthusiastic
  7. applicant
  8. anticipatory
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
  • The couple share three children and Jen is pregnant with their fourth.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The picture takes its cue from the daughter of a Croatian businessman and her Serbian boyfriend, the son of a high-ranking politician, who fall pregnant and decide to get married to the horror of their nationalist parents.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of pregnant
Noun
  • Its brand had never quite recovered from the 2016 campaign, when it was thought to have tipped the scales against then-presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Shapiro, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, made the comment while speaking with Kristen Welker on Meet the Press days after his party retook the House and the Senate in resounding fashion.
    — Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 9 Nov. 2026
Definition of candidate
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
Noun
  • The potential Democratic hopeful for president is not a socialist.
    — Grace Byron, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Another Oscar hopeful launched in platform release as A24 debuted Club Kid on six screens, with the Cannes standout grossing $175,398 on Friday.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of hopeful
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
Noun
  • Nearly 8 in 10 first-year applicants for undergraduate admission to public and 7 in 10 to private colleges and universities get in, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, or NACAC, reports.
    — Jon Marcus, NPR, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The administration also has accused the UC Berkeley Law School and the medical school at the University of California, San Diego, of illegally discriminating against white and Asian applicants.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of applicant
Adjective
  • The service True to the Ritz-Carlton name, the service here is polished and anticipatory—golf tee times, private boat charters, in-room dining requests, and restaurant reservations are handled with professionalism.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2026
  • As dawn approached, an anticipatory excitement filled the hall and most joined in a rejoiceful meditative chant.
    — Robert M. Kinast, STAT, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of anticipatory

Browse Nearby Words

expectancy
expectant
expectantly
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Cite this Entry

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

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