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
If they’re struggling to keep up with costs, we’d expect to see consumer spending suffer.
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
“Now, remember. You must be on the lookout after what happened in Ecuador. We don’t know what to expect from this Kohlrabi place.”
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
