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.
He has yet to find that long-term solution, but he said he does not expect to have to eventually turn to surgery.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2026
Economists widely expect the Bank to hold the core interest rate at its current level of 3.75%.
From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026
On the shuttle bus from downtown to Inglewood on Monday, there were scores of people with Farsi-emblazoned shirts and crowds of grinning Kiwis as one would expect for the Iran-versus-New Zealand showdown that evening.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2026
I did expect to be able to walk to the stadium or at least the American Dream mall with its pedestrian bridge to the stadium.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 16, 2026
“How silly. How can we expect them to give us any respect or work if we don’t give them a proper name? Common sense.”
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
Vocabulary lists containing expect
"Eleven"
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List 5
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Think
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