WordLens

anticipate

1 of 1verb
/ænˈtɪsəpeɪt/
Forms:anticipating,anticipated,anticipated
1

to expect or predict that something will happen

transitive
  • He anticipated a positive response to his proposal.
  • She anticipated that the traffic would be heavy during rush hour.
  • The scientist anticipated the discovery of a new species based on research findings.
  • The experienced chef could anticipate the needs of the kitchen before they arose.
  • He anticipated potential challenges and prepared accordingly.
Synonyms:
2

to predict or sense something in advance and act to prepare for it

transitive
  • She anticipated the traffic and left home earlier than usual.
  • Anticipating her child’s needs, she packed snacks and toys for the trip.
  • The chef anticipated a rush of customers and prepped extra ingredients.
  • The company anticipated a surge in demand and increased production ahead of time.
  • They anticipated possible delays and booked an earlier flight.
3

to recognize someone's desire or instruction ahead of time and act on it before being told

transitive
  • The assistant anticipated his boss's need for coffee and brought it without being asked.
  • Anticipating her father’s command, the child cleaned up her toys before he entered the room.
  • The dog anticipated its owner’s signal and fetched the ball.
  • The staff anticipated the manager’s request for the report.
  • The advisor earned the king’s unwavering trust by anticipating his desires.
4

to act, speak, or think of something before someone else has the chance to

transitive
  • Before I could answer, she anticipated my thoughts and spoke them aloud.
  • She anticipated his joke and finished the punchline before he could.
  • The chess master anticipated his opponent’s strategy and countered it effortlessly.
  • He anticipated the interviewer’s next question and provided additional details.
  • They anticipated the suggestion and implemented the idea before it was mentioned.
5

to eagerly await or expect something with excitement

transitive
  • She anticipated her birthday party with great excitement.
  • They are anticipating the release of the new movie next month.
  • Joy filled their hearts as they anticipated the upcoming festival.
  • All week, she had been anticipating the concert and humming the band's songs.
  • With summer vacation approaching, the children anticipated days of endless fun.
Synonyms:
6

to happen or exist before something else, signaling or preparing for its occurrence

transitive
  • The invention of the telegraph anticipated modern communication technology.
  • The faint glow on the horizon anticipated the rising sun.
  • The initial tremors of the earthquake anticipated the larger shockwaves.
  • Their preliminary results anticipated the conclusions of the study.
  • The prototype anticipated the final version of the product.