expect
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.
"Wilder is going to be coming on strong early, but I expect Derek to weather the storm, stalk his man down and finish it in big style in the 12th round."
From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026
“We’re here to make the Chrysler brand feel unexpected again, sharper, unapologetic and, yeah, a lot more attitude than people expect from a minivan brand,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026
Economists widely expect that the spike in gasoline prices—hovering above an average of $4 per gallon nationwide on Friday—will dampen consumer spending and likely weigh on economic growth in the second quarter.
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
Yet in a post on X, Sam Altman wrote: “I don’t expect them to go any easier on us, am sure I’ll do my part to help enable that with occasional stupid decisions.”
From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026
As we left Coogie told my aunt, “Better not expect him for lunch.”
From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney
From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
