expect

[ ik-spekt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to look forward to; regard as likely to happen; anticipate the occurrence or the coming of:

   I expect to read it. I expect him later. She expects that they will come.

2. to look for with reason or justification:

   We expect obedience.

3. Informal. to suppose or surmise; guess:

   I expect that you are tired from the trip.

4. to anticipate the birth of (one's child):

   Paul and Sylvia expect their second very soon.

expect

/ ɪkˈspɛkt /

verb

1. to regard as probable or likely; anticipate

   he expects to win

2. to look forward to or be waiting for

   we expect good news today

3. to decide that (something) is requisite or necessary; require

   the boss expects us to work late today

Usage Note

This sense of expect ( I expect you went with them. I expect you want to leave now. ) is encountered in the speech of educated people but seldom in their writing.

Derived Forms

• exˈpectable, adjective
• exˈpectably, adverb

Other Words From

• ex·pecta·ble adjective
• ex·pecta·bly adverb
• ex·pected·ly adverb
• ex·pected·ness noun
• ex·pecter noun
• ex·pecting·ly adverb
• over·ex·pect verb
• preex·pect verb (used with object)
• unex·pecta·ble adjective
• unex·pecta·bly adverb
• unex·pecting adjective
• unex·pecting·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of expect¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin ex(s)pectāre “to look out for, await,” equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + spectāre “to look at,” frequentative of specere; spectacle

Word History and Origins

Origin of expect¹

C16: from Latin exspectāre to watch for, from spectāre to look at

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. be expecting, to be pregnant:

   The cat is expecting again.

More idioms and phrases containing expect

see when least expected .

Example Sentences

“A lot of the sharing or selling with third parties is outside the scope of what a consumer would reasonably expect.”

From Los Angeles Times

They are also expected to negatively affect the overall U.S. economy, according to a meta-analysis by the nonprofit Tax Foundation.

From Salon

The report said this was "considerably lower than might have been expected based on data from previous years".

From BBC

He is expected to conduct "very little public-facing activity" before leaving the post, the statement said, adding that he "plans to honour a small number of remaining commitments".

From BBC

The final determination of how much water companies can charge their customers for the next five years is expected on 19 December.

From BBC

Related Words

• await
• forecast
• foresee
• hope
• predict
• suppose
• take
• think

When To Use

What are other ways to say expect?

To expect something is to look forward to it or to regard it as likely to happen. How is expect different from anticipate, hope, and await? Learn more on Thesaurus.com.