expectant
1 of 2adjective
ex·pec·tant ik-ˈspek-tənt 
1
: characterized by expectation
2
: expecting the birth of a child
expectant mothers
expectantly adverb
expectant
2 of 2noun
: one who is looking forward to something
Synonyms
Adjective
- agape
- agog
- anticipant
- anticipatory
Noun
- applicant
- applier
- aspirant
- campaigner
- candidate
- contender
- hopeful
- prospect
- seeker
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective An expectant crowd waited for her arrival. expectant crowds gathered at the spot where the President was scheduled to make an appearance Noun divinity students who were all expectants for a curacy
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Brice-saddler, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2022 The entire audience hangs on her every move, an expectant, attentive silence sweeping the crowd. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 17 Sep. 2022 Both Orr and Conley were expectant fathers, their mothers said Tuesday. Cory Shaffer, cleveland, 23 Aug. 2022 Manning, the young expectant mother in Washington, said the knowledge that the money was waiting for her son would change how her family talks about his future. Ashraf Khalil, ajc, 21 Aug. 2022 Manning, the young expectant mother in Washington, said the knowledge that the money was waiting for her son would change how her family talks about his future. Erin Prater, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2022 Since 1947, the Japanese government has distributed a booklet to expectant mothers, encouraging them to record their journeys through pregnancy, delivery, and matrescence. Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2022 Senate leadership is also expected Wednesdayto detail the caucuses' plans for other legislation that would provide financial relief for Hoosiers and support new and expectant mothers, as well as unveil the chamber's schedule for session. Kaitlin Lange, The Indianapolis Star, 19 July 2022 Pennsylvania nonprofit Real Alternatives is offering a program that provides services to new and expectant mothers who are in need of extra support. Fox News, 6 July 2022 Alex Apatoff, Peoplemag, 8 Aug. 2022 Their reluctance appears to be driven partly by months of unclear guidance and a lack of data for the expectant, both of which persisted until this summer — a consequence of their exclusion from early coronavirus vaccine trials. Brittany Shammas, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Oct. 2021 Even as that service gap has narrowed, neobanks have retained a generation of digital-savvy customers, expectant of new product features and flexibility in managing their finances. Luke Chittock, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2021 The expectant run a higher risk of serious illness and pregnancy complications from the coronavirus, including miscarriages and stillbirths. Christal Hayes, USA TODAY, 11 Aug. 2021 Of greater consequence was the e-mail itself—an apologetic note signed by ABC’s C.E.O., Aaron Rose—on which two hundred and three other couch-expectant recipients were cc’d instead of bcc’d. Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2021 The setting is lush, yet claustrophobic; the mood expectant, but not without anxiety. Colin B. Bailey, The New York Review of Books, 17 Nov. 2020 Meanwhile, the then-expectant mom gave updates on her pregnancy thus far. Mary Green, PEOPLE.com, 30 July 2020 The club asked supporters to come dressed in lilywhite on what was a hot and murky September evening, expectant of a win to open this new chapter in their history. SI.com, 25 Sep. 2019 See More
Adjective
The pilot marks the latest effort by the Bowser administration to provide families with direct cash payments, including a $1.5 million cash assistance program announced early this year for new and expectant mothers in Wards 5, 7 and 8. Michael Brice-saddler, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2022 The entire audience hangs on her every move, an expectant, attentive silence sweeping the crowd. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 17 Sep. 2022 Both Orr and Conley were expectant fathers, their mothers said Tuesday. Cory Shaffer, cleveland, 23 Aug. 2022 Manning, the young expectant mother in Washington, said the knowledge that the money was waiting for her son would change how her family talks about his future. Ashraf Khalil, ajc, 21 Aug. 2022 Manning, the young expectant mother in Washington, said the knowledge that the money was waiting for her son would change how her family talks about his future. Erin Prater, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2022 Since 1947, the Japanese government has distributed a booklet to expectant mothers, encouraging them to record their journeys through pregnancy, delivery, and matrescence. Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2022 Senate leadership is also expected Wednesdayto detail the caucuses' plans for other legislation that would provide financial relief for Hoosiers and support new and expectant mothers, as well as unveil the chamber's schedule for session. Kaitlin Lange, The Indianapolis Star, 19 July 2022 Pennsylvania nonprofit Real Alternatives is offering a program that provides services to new and expectant mothers who are in need of extra support. Fox News, 6 July 2022 Noun
At bestie CaCee Cobb's December 2012 wedding to Donald Faison, an expectant Jessica donned a long black dress and walked down the aisle with actor Zach Braff. Alex Apatoff, Peoplemag, 8 Aug. 2022 Their reluctance appears to be driven partly by months of unclear guidance and a lack of data for the expectant, both of which persisted until this summer — a consequence of their exclusion from early coronavirus vaccine trials. Brittany Shammas, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Oct. 2021 Even as that service gap has narrowed, neobanks have retained a generation of digital-savvy customers, expectant of new product features and flexibility in managing their finances. Luke Chittock, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2021 The expectant run a higher risk of serious illness and pregnancy complications from the coronavirus, including miscarriages and stillbirths. Christal Hayes, USA TODAY, 11 Aug. 2021 Of greater consequence was the e-mail itself—an apologetic note signed by ABC’s C.E.O., Aaron Rose—on which two hundred and three other couch-expectant recipients were cc’d instead of bcc’d. Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2021 The setting is lush, yet claustrophobic; the mood expectant, but not without anxiety. Colin B. Bailey, The New York Review of Books, 17 Nov. 2020 Meanwhile, the then-expectant mom gave updates on her pregnancy thus far. Mary Green, PEOPLE.com, 30 July 2020 The club asked supporters to come dressed in lilywhite on what was a hot and murky September evening, expectant of a win to open this new chapter in their history. SI.com, 25 Sep. 2019 See More Word History
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1609, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing expectant
Kids Definition
expectant
adjective
ex·pec·tant ik-ˈspek-tənt
1
: looking forward to or waiting for something
2
: awaiting the birth of a child
an expectant mother
Medical Definition
expectant
adjective
ex·pec·tant -tənt
: expecting the birth of a child
expectant mothers
expectantly
adverb
as in confidently
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- confidently
- joyfully
- amusedly
- positively
- joyously
- giddily
- exuberantly
- optimistically
- sunnily
- laughingly
- blithely
- hopefully
- bullishly
- lightheartedly
- breezily
- gladly
- sanguinely
- smilingly
- rapturously
- cheerfully
- gigglingly
- elatedly
- blissfully
- cheerily
- amicably
- friendly
- jovially
- merrily
- jocularly
- friendlily
- euphorically
- happily
- mirthfully
- good-humoredly
- good-naturedly
- heartily
- jocosely
- blithesomely
- gladsomely
- brightly
- gaily
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- gloomily
- dejectedly
- dismally
- despondently
- pessimistically
- drearily
- forlornly
- disconsolately
- blackly
- mournfully
- sorrowfully
- plaintively
- dolefully
- glumly
- dispiritedly
- sullenly
- abjectly
- sternly
- sulkily
- sourly
- morosely
- wretchedly
- miserably
- unhappily
- dourly
- heavily
- darkly
- dolorously
- bleakly
- mirthlessly
- cheerlessly