expect
B1Neutral (common in both formal and informal contexts)
Definition
Meaning
To regard something as likely to happen or to regard someone as likely to do something.
To require or demand something as appropriate or due; to anticipate the birth of a child.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a degree of confidence or assumption about a future event, stronger than 'hope' but weaker than a guarantee.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal differences. Both use 'expect' for anticipation and requirement. The noun 'expectant' (as in 'expectant mother') is equally common.
Connotations
Slight nuance: In UK English, 'I expect you to...' can be a polite but firm instruction. In US English, it may be perceived as slightly more direct.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
expect + noun/pronounexpect + to-infinitiveexpect + that-clauseexpect + obj + to-infinitiveexpect + obj + from/of + personVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “expecting (a baby)”
- “What do you expect?”
- “as one might expect”
- “live up to expectations”
- “against all expectations”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for forecasts, deliverables, and deadlines (e.g., 'We expect Q4 earnings to rise.').
Academic
Used to state hypotheses or anticipated results (e.g., 'The model expects a positive correlation.').
Everyday
Used for social plans, routines, and common assumptions (e.g., 'I expect he'll be late.').
Technical
Used in computing and engineering for system behaviors (e.g., 'The function expects two arguments.').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I do expect you to apologise.
- We're expecting rain later.
- He's expected to arrive at half eight.
American English
- I expect you to apologize.
- We're expecting rain later.
- He's expected to arrive at eight-thirty.
adverb
British English
- She looked at him expectantly.
- They waited expectantly for the news.
American English
- She looked at him expectantly.
- They waited expectantly for the news.
adjective
British English
- The expectant crowd waited quietly.
- She is in an expectant state.
American English
- The expectant crowd waited quietly.
- She is expecting.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I expect a letter from my friend.
- We expect good weather tomorrow.
- Do you expect me to help?
- The train is expected to arrive on time.
- You can't expect perfection all the time.
- They are expecting their first child.
- Investors expect a sharp rise in interest rates.
- Given his experience, I fully expect him to succeed.
- The contract explicitly expects compliance with all regulations.
- The theory posits that one should expect a degree of market correction.
- She had long expected this denouement, yet it still pained her.
- The algorithm expects input data to be pre-processed.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
EX-PECT: Think of 'EX' (out of) and 'SPECT' (look, as in spectacle). To look out for something, to anticipate it.
Conceptual Metaphor
FUTURE IS AHEAD / KNOWLEDGE IS VISION (We 'see' what is coming).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not equivalent to 'ждать' in the sense of physically waiting. Use 'wait for' for that.
- Can be confused with 'hope'. 'Expect' is more certain than 'надеяться'.
- In the sense 'to require' (I expect you to be on time), it's stronger than the Russian 'ожидать'.
Common Mistakes
- *I am expecting for a call. (Correct: I am expecting a call.)
- *I expect he comes tomorrow. (Correct: I expect (that) he will come / I expect him to come tomorrow.)
- Using 'wait' instead of 'expect' for mental anticipation.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'expect' in the sense of 'require'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not typically. It is a transitive verb (expect something, expect someone to do something). 'Wait' is used with 'for' (wait for something).
'Expect' is neutral or can be negative; it's about anticipation. 'Look forward to' is always positive, expressing pleasurable anticipation.
Yes, e.g., 'I was expecting a different outcome,' to express an assumption held at a past time.
It is neutral and appropriate for all registers, from casual conversation to formal legal or academic writing.