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.
See Examples For:
Both sides expect the result to be close and it could depend on how many MPs turn up for the sitting on Friday, a day when they would usually expect to be in their constituencies.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
Most venture-capital funds are 10-year limited partnerships, so investors expect their money back, plus profits, in that time frame, though extensions can be granted.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
“When the water level is extra high, a foot or more higher than we expect it to be, then it can really wreak havoc.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026
"I don't expect these sanctions to have strong economic consequences for the country," he said.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
“Do you expect that he’ll ask? Will you come to an arrangement?”
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
The airline said Thursday it now expects available seat miles, a metric for passenger capacity, to increase 1.5% to 3.5% during the current quarter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
Amaya said he expects the wave to enter the Gulf of California on or around Sept. 19.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026
He expects agent-to-agent activity to increase as consumer adoption of AI grows.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has told police chiefs that lessons must be learned from how they handled last weekend's anti-migrant protests in Dover and Portsmouth - saying she expects officers to use all powers necessary.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
Pa’s complexion is the darkest in our family, though still really light, like a white person’s tan, and how he looks is how everyone expects me to look.
From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
An early taste of the big leagues, even with his playing time expected to come mostly in the DH spot, could be beneficial for the 21-year-old’s development.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026
When the Bank of England meets later next week, it is expected to try to look both at current price pressures and the wider economic picture.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
More than $36 trillion is expected to be spent on computing capacity through 2050, according to a PWC report.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026
Total ARR is expected to grow 10.2% year-over-year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
I never expected Aunt Melissa would pay me.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
Scientists are also expecting the arrival of what’s known as a Kelvin wave in California later this month, which is traveling up the North American coast; it is currently off Mexico’s west coast.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
Sam Beesley and Carly Estlick are expecting their first child, a boy they plan to call Finn, in October after going through IVF.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
He said Noel "wasn't expecting... the emotional response" from fans.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
Just 57% of Americans expecting an inheritance or financial gift report having clearly discussed those expectations with the giver, LendingTree found.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
Cat turned, expecting to see her brother—but instead, it was Poppy Zhang, the nicest girl in fifth grade.
From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn
Vocabulary lists containing expect
"Eleven"
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List 5
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Think
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