Pronunciation key ( ik-spekt′ ) |
ex•pect
v.t.
[L. expectare, exspectare; ex- out + spectare to look < pp. of specere to see].
- Originally, to await or wait for.
- Look forward to; looking to a probable occurence or appear. Anticipated such as, "I expected him to visit yesterday." To consider likely or a certainty.
- Consider reasonable or a thing that is due, such as "she expects you to apologize," Or, required and obligatory, to look for as proper or necessary such as, "Some teachers expect more of their students."
- [Colloq.] To suppose; presume; guess. To be expecting, [Colloq.], to be pregnant.
Syn. To expect suggests a substantial degree of confidence that an event will occur (to expect friends to meet at lunch); anticipate suggests the state of looking forward to an event with a foretaste of the pleasure or distress it promises, or a realization of something beforehand and taking appropriate measures, such as to expect trouble. Hope suggests a desire for something in combination with confidence in the belief that it can be brought to fulfillment, to hope for the best; await implies waiting for, or being prepared for a person or thing, (a friendly gathering of friends awaits you). Foresee is to suggest knowledge of a thing before it comes to fruition by means of study, insight, intuition or inference.
—ex•pect′a•ble adj. —ex•pect′a•bly adv. —ex•pect′ed•ly adv. —ex•pect′ed•ness n.
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