anticipate

[ an-tis-uh-peyt ]

verb (used with object)

, an·tic·i·pat·ed, an·tic·i·pat·ing.

1. to realize beforehand; foretaste or foresee:

   to anticipate pleasure.

2. to expect; look forward to; be sure of:

   to anticipate a favorable decision.

3. to perform (an action) before another has had time to act.
4. to answer (a question), obey (a command), or satisfy (a request) before it is made:

   He anticipated each of my orders.

5. to nullify, prevent, or forestall by taking countermeasures in advance:

   to anticipate a military attack.

   Synonyms: avert, obviate, preclude

6. to consider or mention before the proper time:

   to anticipate more difficult questions.

7. to be before (another) in doing, thinking, achieving, etc.:

   Many modern inventions were anticipated by Leonardo da Vinci.

8. Finance.
   1. to expend (funds) before they are legitimately available for use.
   2. to discharge (an obligation) before it is due.

verb (used without object)

, an·tic·i·pat·ed, an·tic·i·pat·ing.

1. to think, speak, act, or feel an emotional response in advance.

anticipate

/ ænˈtɪsɪˌpeɪt /

verb

1. may take a clause as object to foresee and act in advance of

   he anticipated the fall in value by selling early

2. to thwart by acting in advance of; forestall

   I anticipated his punch by moving out of reach

3. also intr to mention (something) before its proper time

   don't anticipate the climax of the story

4. may take a clause as object to regard as likely; expect; foresee

   he anticipated that it would happen

5. to make use of in advance of possession

   he anticipated his salary in buying a house

6. to pay (a bill, etc) before it falls due
7. to cause to happen sooner

   the spread of nationalism anticipated the decline of the Empire

Usage Note

Despite claims that anticipate should only be used to mean “to perform (an action) or respond to (a question, etc.) in advance” or “to forestall,” it has been used widely since the 18th century as a synonym for expect, often with an implication of pleasure: We anticipate a large turnout at the next meeting. This use is standard in all types of speech and writing.

Usage

The use of anticipate to mean expect should be avoided

Derived Forms

• anˈticiˌpator, noun
• anˈticipatorily, adverb
• anˈticipatory, adjective

Other Words From

• an·tic·i·pat·a·ble adjective
• an·tic·i·pa·tor noun
• pre·an·tic·i·pate verb (used with object) preanticipated preanticipating

Word History and Origins

Origin of anticipate¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin anticipātus “taken before, anticipated,” past participle of anticipāre, “to take before,” equivalent to anti- (variant of ante- ante- ( def ) ) + -cipāre (combining form of capere “to take”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of anticipate¹

C16: from Latin anticipāre to take before, realize beforehand, from anti- ante- + capere to take

Example Sentences

“We do not anticipate that the Missouri ballot initiative will have an immediate or drastic impact on those numbers.”

From Salon

“The songs are basically in single takes unless there’s a location change that I did not anticipate. Even if it’s not yet dance, it’s still choreographed because there’s a musical rhythm to everything that’s happening.”

From Los Angeles Times

Sources also anticipate Miller will work closely with Thomas D. Homan in overseeing immigration policy.

From Salon

He said pollsters this year may have leaned too heavily on bets that people would behave roughly as they did in 2020 - failing to anticipate the depth of the swing among Latino and young voters toward Trump.

From BBC

Sutter said law enforcement used to be able to better track down these gatherings off of public social media posts, but tactics have changed, making it difficult to anticipate where the next takeover might happen.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• assume
• await
• count on
• forecast
• foresee
• prepare for
• see