EXPECT

expect

(verb) look forward to the birth of a child; “She is expecting in March”

expect

(verb) consider reasonable or due; “I’m expecting a full explanation as to why these files were destroyed”

expect, anticipate

(verb) regard something as probable or likely; “The meteorologists are expecting rain for tomorrow”

expect, look, await, wait

(verb) look forward to the probable occurrence of; “We were expecting a visit from our relatives”; “She is looking to a promotion”; “he is waiting to be drafted”

ask, require, expect

(verb) consider obligatory; request and expect; “We require our secretary to be on time”; “Aren’t we asking too much of these children?”; “I expect my students to arrive in time for their lessons”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

expect (third-person singular simple present expects, present participle expecting, simple past and past participle expected)

(ambitransitive) To predict or believe that something will happen

Synonyms: anticipate, hope, look for

To consider obligatory or required.

Synonyms: call for, demand

To consider reasonably due.

Synonyms: hope, want, wish

(continuous aspect only, of a woman or couple) To be pregnant, to consider a baby due.

(obsolete, transitive) To wait for; to await.

Synonyms: await, Thesaurus:wait for

(obsolete, intransitive) To wait; to stay.

Synonym: wait

Usage notes

• Expect is a mental act and mostly has a reference to the future, to some forthcoming event (e.g. a person expects to die, or he expects to survive). Think and believe may have reference to the past and present, as well as to the future (e.g. I think the mail has arrived; I believe he came home yesterday, that he is at home now). There is a not uncommon use of expect, which is a confusion of the two (e.g. I expect the mail has arrived; I expect he is at home). Await is a physical or moral act. We await something which, when it comes, will affect us personally. We expect what may, or may not, interest us personally. See also anticipate.

• This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive. See English catenative verbs

Anagrams

• except

Source: Wiktionary

Ex*pect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Expected; p. pr. & vb. n. Expecting.] Etym: [L. expectatum, to look out for, await, expect; ex + out spectare to look at. See Spectacle.]

1. To wait for; to await. [Obs.] Let's in, and there expect their coming. Shak.

2. To look for (mentally); to look forward to, as to something that is believed to be about to happen or come; to have a previous apprehension of, whether of good or evil; to look for with some confidence; to anticipate; -- often followed by an infinitive, sometimes by a clause (with, or without, that); as I expect to receive wages; I expect that the troops will be defeated. "Good: I will expect you." Shak. "Expecting thy reply." Shak. The Somersetshire or yellow regiment . . . was expected to arrive on the following day. Macaulay.

Syn.

– To anticipate; look for; await; hope.

– To Expect, Think, Believe, Await. Expect is a mental act and has aways a reference to the future, to some coming event; as a person expects to die, or he expects to survive. Think and believe have reference to the past and present, as well as to the future; as I think the mail has arrived; I believe he came home yesterday, that he is he is at home now. There is a not uncommon use of expect, which is a confusion of the two; as, I expect the mail has arrived; I expect he is at home. This misuse should be avoided. Await is a physical or moral act. We await that which, when it comes, will affect us personally. We expect what may, or may not, interest us personally. See Anticipate.

Ex*pect", v. t.

Definition: To wait; to stay. [Obs.] Sandys.

Ex*pect", n.

Definition: Expectation. [Obs.] Shak.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

EXPECT

Etymology

Verb

Usage notes

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