anticipate
C1Neutral to formal. Common in academic, business, and legal contexts.
Definition
Meaning
to expect or foresee something happening and act, feel, or prepare for it in advance.
To look forward to something with pleasure or apprehension; to use, consider, or mention something before its proper time.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies not just expectation, but also preparatory action or an emotional response (positive or negative) to the expected event. In formal/logical contexts, it can mean 'to forestall' or 'to preclude by prior action'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In American English, it is commonly used to mean 'expect' (I anticipate a large crowd). In British English, this usage is accepted but some traditionalists prefer 'expect' for simple expectation and 'anticipate' only when some preparatory action is involved.
Connotations
In both, implies a degree of foresight. The British prescriptive distinction slightly elevates the formality of the word when used 'correctly'.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English, with a broader semantic range in common use.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SVO (anticipate + noun/pronoun)SV that-clause (anticipate that...)SV -ing clause (anticipate doing...)SV wh-clause (anticipate what/how...)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Anticipate with bated breath”
- “The widely anticipated...”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for market forecasting and risk management (e.g., 'We anticipate a downturn in Q3').
Academic
Used to describe theoretical predictions or scholarly expectations (e.g., 'The study did not anticipate this outcome').
Everyday
Often used for social plans or personal expectations (e.g., 'I'm anticipating a quiet weekend').
Technical
In engineering/computing: to process data before it is strictly needed to reduce latency.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The planners failed to anticipate the sheer volume of traffic.
- We do not anticipate needing any extra staff.
American English
- The company anticipates record profits this quarter.
- I didn't anticipate him reacting so strongly.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No standard adverb form. 'Anticipatorily' is non-standard/awkward.)
American English
- N/A (No standard adverb form. 'Anticipatorily' is non-standard/awkward.)
adjective
British English
- N/A (No standard adjective form. 'Anticipatory' is used but rare.)
American English
- N/A (No standard adjective form. 'Anticipatory' is used but rare.)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I anticipate a good time at the party.
- She anticipates no problems.
- The team anticipates finishing the project next week.
- Did you anticipate this delay?
- Investors failed to anticipate the market crash.
- We must anticipate potential objections to our proposal.
- The lawyer adeptly anticipated the line of questioning from the prosecution.
- His theory anticipated several key developments in modern physics.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of ANTIcipate as being ANTI-surprise. You're acting BEFORE (anti-) an event to be ready for it.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE FUTURE IS A LANDSCAPE AHEAD (we can see parts of it coming); PREPARATION IS A SHIELD AGAINST THE FUTURE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with 'предвидеть' for simple expectation; use 'ожидать'. 'Anticipate' with action aligns with 'предвосхищать' or 'заранее рассчитывать на'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'anticipate for' (incorrect: *'I anticipate for your arrival'). Correct: 'I anticipate your arrival'.
- Confusing with 'expect' where no preparatory thought/action is implied (pedantic point).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'anticipate' in its most precise, formal sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Expect' means to regard something as likely to happen. 'Antipate' adds the idea of foreseeing and preparing for, or feeling the effects of, that event in advance.
No, it's incorrect. Use a gerund (-ing) or a that-clause. Wrong: *'I anticipate to see you.' Correct: 'I anticipate seeing you' or 'I anticipate that I will see you.'
It is neutral but common in formal writing. In casual speech, 'expect' or 'look forward to' are often used for its simpler meanings.
No. It can imply looking forward with pleasure, but also with dread or caution (e.g., 'anticipate trouble'). Context defines the emotion.