anticipated
B2Formal/Neutral
Definition
Meaning
To expect or look forward to something happening; to foresee and act in preparation for something.
It can also describe something that has been considered or dealt with in advance, reducing its novelty or surprise, or an event/payment that is expected to occur at an earlier time than originally planned.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Anticipated" is the past tense or past participle form of "anticipate." It often carries a sense of not just passive expectation but active preparation. When used as an adjective (e.g., 'the anticipated release'), it means 'expected' or 'awaited.'
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Minor potential differences in typical collocates within specific domains.
Connotations
Slightly more formal than 'expected' in both varieties. The noun form 'anticipation' is more common in everyday speech than the verb 'anticipated'.
Frequency
Comparatively high and similar in both formal written contexts (academic, business, journalism). Slightly less frequent in casual conversation.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[subject] + anticipated + [noun/gerund] (He anticipated problems.)[subject] + anticipated + [that-clause] (They anticipated that sales would rise.)[subject] + anticipated + [wh-clause] (We couldn't anticipate what would happen.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly, but related to 'beat someone to the punch' (to anticipate someone's action).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for forecasting results, costs, market movements, or competitor actions. (The board did not anticipate the merger.)
Academic
Used to describe predicted outcomes in research or theoretical models. (The experiment's results were not as anticipated.)
Everyday
Used for planning events, travel, or social interactions. (We hadn't anticipated so much traffic.)
Technical
In computing/engineering, refers to pre-fetching data or handling an expected signal. (The processor anticipated the next instruction.)
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The engineers anticipated the structural flaw and reinforced the design.
- He had anticipated their objections and prepared counter-arguments.
- The manager anticipated a downturn and cut costs early.
American English
- The team anticipated the market shift perfectly.
- We hadn't anticipated needing so many permits.
- She anticipated the question and had her answer ready.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We anticipated good weather for the picnic.
- The teacher anticipated a fun lesson.
- He correctly anticipated the winner of the race.
- The anticipated cost of the project is quite high.
- The government failed to anticipate the severe economic consequences.
- Despite the widely anticipated announcement, the stock price still fluctuated.
- Critics argue that the policy's architects did not adequately anticipate the social unrest it would provoke.
- The novel's much-anticipated denouement subverted all reader expectations.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of ANTIcipate: being ANTI (against) being surprised. You see it coming before (anti-) it happens.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE FUTURE IS A LANDSCAPE AHEAD (We see what's coming on the road ahead). TIME IS A MOVING OBJECT (We meet the future event before its scheduled time).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with 'anticiper' (Fr.)-inspired false friends. Not 'anticipate' = 'ускорить' (to hasten), though it can mean 'to do earlier.' Primary meaning is 'предвидеть, ожидать.'
- The adjective 'anticipated' is often best translated as 'ожидаемый', not a direct cognate.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'anticipate' with 'expect' (anticipate implies some forethought or action; expect is more passive).
- Using it redundantly: 'She anticipated in advance' (tautology).
- Incorrect preposition: 'anticipate for something' (correct: anticipate something).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'anticipated' used INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Expect' is more general and passive, meaning to regard something as likely to happen. 'Anticipate' often implies not just belief but also some preparatory thought, action, or feeling regarding the expected event. You can 'expect' rain (think it will happen), but you 'anticipate' rain by taking an umbrella.
Yes, in specific contexts, especially formal or financial. 'The anticipated payment date was moved up to June 1st' means the payment is now expected earlier than originally planned. The core idea is still 'expected,' but with a temporal shift to an earlier point.
Yes, 'highly anticipated' is a very common and correct collocation, especially for products, events, or releases that many people are looking forward to.
It is a participial adjective. It is derived from the past participle of the verb 'anticipate' but functions here as an adjective describing the noun 'result'.