expectant 1 of 2

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Franciscan Dyer to host free baby expo Franciscan Health Dyer is hosting a free baby expo for expectant families and new parents, a release said. Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025 Myers takes what could easily become an underwhelming topic and elevates it to a song of yearning, expectant romance. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 18 Aug. 2025
Noun
That was the conclusion reached following an experiment in which the brains of 20 expectant fathers were scanned before and after the birth of a baby, and then compared with the brains of 17 childless men. Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025 However, Reddit users were firmly on the expectant mom's side, noting that her mother-in-law's insistence on being included in the birth plans is steamrolling her wishes. Sara Belcher, People.com, 15 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for expectant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expectant
Adjective
  • This isn’t necessarily surprising, given that the last four episodes of the season were released September 3, meaning most eager audiences are likely to have caught up by now.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Henry’s blend of swoony love and spicy romance with compelling characters has rocketed her to the top of the bestseller lists, and fans are eager to see how that might translate to film success.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Later that year, Newton was accused of placing his knee into the back of a 25-year-old woman who was nine months pregnant during an arrest.
    Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
  • But soon after bagging six kittens and beating them against the trunk of a tree, their mothers become pregnant again.
    Rebecca van Laer September 30, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In one of the videos, candidates are seen on the catwalk when the earthquake hits.
    Rajeev Tyagi, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The right candidate will discuss their holistic approach to meeting your financial goals, rather than immediately pushing products.
    Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,Kelli Grant, CFP®, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Their watchful eyes and swift response can make all the difference in a water emergency.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2025
  • In honor of the October 31-holiday, the network has gathered together comedians Patton Oswalt, Rachel Dratch, Leslie Jones and Adam Pally to test their skills in the kitchen — all under the watchful eyes of judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.
    Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Despite McEntire trying to win Clark over with her experience as a fellow female country singer, the hopeful ended up choosing the Irish pop star.
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Eli successfully played with other walk-on hopefuls and drew the attention of coaches and players alike.
    Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Nash-Taylor congratulated her stepdaughter on a beautiful wedding in an enthusiastic tribute to the couple's special day.
    Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
  • When enthusiastic punters entered the online maze to reach the front of the queue, what would the damage actually be?
    Phil Hay, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The requirement that residents and applicants prove their citizenship — and that housing providers verify it — could create $100 million in new costs, HUD expects.
    Jesse Coburn, ProPublica, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Risher isn’t the only chief executive who throws out unconventional questions to get a deeper read on applicants.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Whereas imminent death brings finality, the fade is a gradual thief, replacing all things beautiful in life with anticipatory grief and change.
    Julie Devaney Hogan, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Expectant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expectant. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

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