Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

expect

[ik-spekt] / ɪkˈspɛkt /




Usage

What are other ways to say expect?

The verb expect implies confidently believing, usually for good reasons, that an event will occur: to expect a visit from a friend. To anticipate is to look forward to an event and even to picture it: Do you anticipate trouble? Hope implies a wish that an event may take place and an expectation that it will: to hope for the best. Await (wait for) implies being alert and ready, whether for good or evil: to await news after a cyclone.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Joe said there were more blacksmiths than people might expect, with about 1,800 members of the British Artistic Blacksmithing Association.

From BBC Sep. 2, 2026

"People expect to see improvement overnight," said Annamaria, 67, a local pensioner and supporter of the prime minister who also declined to give her last name.

From Barron's Sep. 2, 2026

Put simply, the oil companies don’t expect the boom times to last.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 2, 2026

“Insurance is the only product we spend thousands of dollars on per year, buying on a promise. And we hope and expect that … in a disaster, they’ll actually deliver on their promise.”

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 1, 2026

It’s too soon to expect a response, even if his family saw my letter and immediately wrote back to me, but I am thinking of him nonetheless.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

The industry expects the energy market to have found its footing long before then.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 2, 2026

It expects to deliver 108,000 to 111,000 vehicles during the period, 24%-27.5% more than the previous year.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 1, 2026

Like Sur, Curtis said he expects Broadcom to remain as “the dominant supplier” of Google’s TPUs, though reports of rising competition “are hard to disprove.”

From MarketWatch Sep. 1, 2026

Hoagland lives in Washington, expects to visit the White House neighborhood about once a month, and has spent decades studying and working in historic preservation.

From Slate Sep. 1, 2026

If Axel expects Byrd to tell the truth, to speak up, to keep promises, then he must do the same.

From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers

It also raised its targets for data center power demand, with 2030’s expected figure of 83 gigawatts lifted to 108 gigawatts.

From MarketWatch Sep. 2, 2026

Gasoline demand, meanwhile, is expected to decline over the long term as drivers buy more electric vehicles and engines become more efficient.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 2, 2026

The sale is not expected to be finalized until early next year.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 2, 2026

Xi is expected to traverse the entire capital during his visit Wednesday, including a stop at the Grand Egyptian Museum overlooking the Giza Pyramids.

From Barron's Sep. 2, 2026

Whatever I expected him to say, it wasn’t that.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Analysts polled by FactSet were expecting $4.91 a share.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 1, 2026

But Roberts indicated over the weekend that he wasn’t necessarily expecting Rushing to be ready to be activated Tuesday.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 1, 2026

Analysts tracked by FactSet were expecting $3.35 billion.

From MarketWatch Sep. 1, 2026

Analysts polled by The Wall Street Journal were expecting a reading of 55.3.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 1, 2026

She blinked hard, expecting them to disappear, for them to be a delusion brought on by her first sickness in nearly a hundred years.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny




Vocabulary lists containing expect


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training