expect

verb

ex·​pect ik-ˈspekt How to pronounce expect (audio)
expected; expecting; expects

transitive verb

1
a
: to consider probable or certain
expect to be forgiven
expect that things will improve
b
: to consider reasonable, due, or necessary
expected hard work from the students
c
: to consider bound in duty or obligated
they expect you to pay your bills
2
: to anticipate or look forward to the coming or occurrence of
we expect them any minute now
expected a telephone call
3
4
archaic : await

intransitive verb

1
: to be pregnant : await the birth of one's child
used in progressive tenses
she's expecting next month
2
: to look forward
3
archaic : wait, stay
expectable adjective
expectably adverb
expectedly adverb
expectedness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for expect

expect, hope, look mean to await some occurrence or outcome.

expect implies a high degree of certainty and usually involves the idea of preparing or envisioning.

expects to be finished by Tuesday

hope implies little certainty but suggests confidence or assurance in the possibility that what one desires or longs for will happen.

hopes to find a job soon

look, with to, implies assurance that expectations will be fulfilled

looks to a tidy profit from the sale

; with for it implies less assurance and suggests an attitude of expectancy and watchfulness.

look for rain when the wind shifts to the northeast

Examples of expect in a Sentence

As expected, the election was very close. It's expected that the new products will be available next month. Prices are expected to rise. He's opposed to the new law, as you might expect. Good things sometimes happen when you least expect them. I'm expecting a phone call. The expected delivery date is next month. He's a teacher who expects hard work from his students. We expected more from you. This is not the kind of behavior I expected of you.
Recent Examples on the Web To coincide with the astronomical event, Vampire Weekend will start playing at 12 p.m. CT, with the eclipse expected to reach totality around 1:36 p.m., bringing full darkness for a couple of minutes in the middle of the day. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2024 Winds are expected to blow out of the west around 15 to 25 mph, with gusts around 45 mph. Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2024 The National Weather Service is expecting a cold front into the Northeast U.S. at the beginning of the week that could bring some snow and wind gusts of up to 30 mph across the region, and while cool and calm can extend the life of the blossoms, rain and wind can bring their end. Li Cohen, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2024 While owner households are expected to grow twice as fast as renter households over the next 25 years, New Albany's ownership stock is not keeping up with the pace. The Courier-Journal, 18 Mar. 2024 After Tuesday, meteorologists expect the region will remain dry through the weekend, when there’s a chance for further precipitation — though that system is still developing and could change course in the coming days. Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2024 Additionally, attendees can expect conferences, lunches, and industry rendezvous meals to further foster collaboration and networking opportunities. Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 18 Mar. 2024 As far as dealers are concerned, 36 percent are expecting an improvement in sales this year. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2024 Details are slim regarding what fans can expect from the new tracks, although there is at least one collaboration in the works. Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'expect.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin exspectare to look forward to, from ex- + spectare to look at, frequentative of specere to look — more at spy

First Known Use

1560, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of expect was in 1560

Dictionary Entries Near expect

Cite this Entry

“Expect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expect. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

expect

verb
ex·​pect ik-ˈspekt How to pronounce expect (audio)
1
: to believe that something will occur and wait for it to happen
expect rain
expect her home soon
2
: suppose sense 3, think
who do you expect will win?
3
a
: to consider reasonable, due, or necessary
expect an honest day's work
b
: to consider obligated
expected you to pay your debts
expectable adjective
Etymology

from Latin expectare, exspectare "to look forward to," from ex- "out, forth" and spectare "to watch, look at," derived from specere "to look, look at" — related to auspice, spectacle

Medical Definition

expect

intransitive verb
ex·​pect ik-ˈspekt How to pronounce expect (audio)
: to be pregnant : await the birth of one's child
used in progressive tenses
she's expecting next month

More from Merriam-Webster on expect

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