anticipate

/ænˈtɪsɪpeɪt/ neutral to formal

Say it: an-TIS-uh-payt

1. verb To regard as probable; to expect or predict.
We anticipate a high volume of traffic during the holiday weekend.
2. verb To take action in preparation for a future event.
She anticipated his next move in the chess game and blocked it effectively.
3. verb To look forward to, often with pleasure.
The whole family was eagerly anticipating the reunion.
4. verb To deal with or consider something before it happens; to forestall.
The speaker anticipated the audience's questions and addressed them in his opening remarks.

📖 Seen in the wild

The company tried to anticipate market trends to stay ahead of its competitors.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ anticipate in a sentence

A good project manager anticipates potential risks and creates a contingency plan.
The highly anticipated film finally premiered to rave reviews.
I didn't anticipate running into so many delays on my way to the airport.
In his novel, the author seemed to anticipate many of the technological changes of the next century.
The company failed to anticipate the shift in consumer demand.
Can you anticipate what their reaction will be to the news?
She tried to anticipate the needs of her guests to make their stay more comfortable.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

expect predict foresee await forecast envision look forward to preempt

expect · suggests a strong belief that something will happen, but without the proactive preparation often implied by anticipate.

predict · implies forecasting an outcome based on data, evidence, or a formal model, which is more specific than anticipate.

foresee · suggests knowing something will happen in the future, often through wisdom, intuition, or special insight.

await · focuses on the act of waiting for something to happen, rather than preparing for it.

Opposites: be surprised, be caught off guard, doubt, dread, overlook

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'anticipate' comes to us from the Latin 'anticipare', which literally means 'to take before'. It's a combination of 'ante' (before) and 'capere' (to take). This origin neatly captures the word's dual meaning of both seeing something before it happens and taking action before it happens.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

highly anticipatedanticipate the needs ofanticipate a problemwidely anticipatedanticipate a questionfail to anticipate

The most common point of confusion is between 'anticipate' and 'expect'. While they are often used interchangeably, careful speakers use 'anticipate' to imply preparing for a future event, not just expecting it. For instance, you 'expect' a package to arrive, but you 'anticipate' its arrival by staying home to sign for it. Using 'anticipate' when you simply mean 'expect' can sound overly formal in casual settings.

Word family: anticipation, anticipatory, unanticipated

💬 Quick answers

What's the difference between 'anticipate' and 'expect'?

'Expect' means you believe something is likely to happen. 'Anticipate' often adds a layer of preparation; you not only expect it, but you are also getting ready for it. For example, you expect rain, so you anticipate the need for an umbrella and bring one.

Is 'anticipate' a formal word?

Yes, 'anticipate' is generally more formal than synonyms like 'expect' or 'look forward to'. It is common in business, academic, and professional writing but can sound a bit stiff in casual conversation.

Can you anticipate something bad?

Absolutely. While we often anticipate positive things like a vacation, you can also anticipate problems, challenges, or negative outcomes, which allows you to prepare for them.

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