expect
verb OPAL W
/ɪkˈspekt/
/ɪkˈspekt/
Verb Forms
Idioms | present simple I / you / we / they expect | /ɪkˈspekt/ /ɪkˈspekt/ |
| he / she / it expects | /ɪkˈspekts/ /ɪkˈspekts/ |
| past simple expected | /ɪkˈspektɪd/ /ɪkˈspektɪd/ |
| past participle expected | /ɪkˈspektɪd/ /ɪkˈspektɪd/ |
| -ing form expecting | /ɪkˈspektɪŋ/ /ɪkˈspektɪŋ/ |
- [transitive] to think or believe that something will happen or that somebody will do something
- expect something The company is expecting record sales this year.
- Change often happens when you least expect it.
- expect something from somebody/something Don't expect sympathy from me!
- expect something of somebody/something That's not the sort of behaviour I expect of you!
- expect to do something They never expected to find their dream home.
- I looked back, half expecting to see someone following me.
- expect somebody/something to do something Analysts expect the company to announce growth of at least 5 per cent.
- I fully expected her to refuse my offer.
- House prices are expected to rise sharply.
- Do you really expect me to believe you?
- expect (that)… Many people were expecting (that) the peace talks would break down.
- it is expected that… It is widely expected that interest rates will rise.
Language Bank expectexpectDiscussing predictions- By 2050, one in six people on the planet will be aged 65 or over.
- The number of people globally aged 65 and over is expected/likely to more than double by 2050.
- Experts have predicted/forecast that the over-65s will make up 17 per cent of the global population by 2050.
- World population is set to reach 9.8 billion by 2050.
- Net migration into Britain over the last decade was higher than expected.
- Overall population growth in Britain has been in line with predictions.
More Like This Verbs usually followed by infinitivesVerbs usually followed by infinitives- afford
- agree
- appear
- arrange
- attempt
- beg
- choose
- consent
- decide
- expect
- fail
- happen
- hesitate
- hope
- intend
- learn
- manage
- mean
- neglect
- offer
- prepare
- pretend
- promise
- refuse
- swear
- try
- want
- wish
Extra Examples- We are expecting a rise in food prices this month.
- You can't expect to learn a foreign language in a few months.
- I didn’t expect him to become a successful writer.
- It is expected that the report will suggest some major reforms.
- As expected, they lost the election.
- I do not necessarily expect an easy answer to this question.
- ‘Will Bill be there?’ ‘I expect so.’
- I didn't really expect them to come.
- Double the expected number of people came to the meeting.
- She confidently expects to win.
- We can expect to see an improvement in the weather over the next few days.
- My parents fully expect us to get married.
- I would expect the factory to be working again as normal by next week.
- The economy is expected to pick up in the first half of next year.
- This kind of behaviour is to be expected from a two-year-old.
- Was she really naive enough to expect that he had changed?
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- confidently
- fully
- rightly
- …
- be fair to
- be natural to
- be reasonable to
- …
- from
- as expected
- (only) to be expected
- be widely expected
- …
- [transitive] (often used in the progressive tenses) to be waiting for somebody/something to arrive, as this has been arranged
- expect somebody/something to expect a visit/call/letter from somebody
- We were expecting him yesterday.
- They are not expected until tomorrow.
- Are you expecting visitors?
- I'm expecting an important call.
- expect somebody to do something We were expecting him to arrive yesterday.
- [transitive] to demand that somebody will do something because it is their duty or responsibility
- expect something It is reasonable to expect changes in the way we work.
- No one has a right to expect good results without working hard.
- These are the high standards that hotel guests have come to expect.
- expect something from somebody He's still getting over his illness, so it's unrealistic to expect too much from him.
- expect something of somebody Are you clear what is expected of you?
- expect somebody to do something You can't reasonably expect people to pay such high taxes.
- We are expected to work on Saturdays.
- It would be unreasonable to expect them to do all that work for free.
- expect to do something I expect to be paid promptly for the work.
Synonyms demanddemand- require
- expect
- insist
- ask
- demand to make a very strong request for something; to say very definitely that somebody should have or do something:
- She demanded an immediate explanation.
- require [often passive] (rather formal) to make somebody do or have something, especially because it is necessary according to a law or set of rules or standards:
- All candidates will be required to take a short test.
- expect to demand that somebody should do, have or be something, especially because it is their duty or responsibility:
- I expect to be paid promptly for the work.
- insist to demand that something happens or that somebody agrees to do something:
- I didn’t want to go but he insisted.
- We insist on the highest standards at all times.
- ask to expect or demand something:
- You’re asking too much of him.
- to demand/require/expect/ask something of/from somebody
- to demand/require/expect/insist/ask that…
- to require/expect/ask somebody to do something
- to demand/require/expect/ask a lot/too much/a great deal
- to be too much to expect/ask
Extra Examples- Her parents expected high standards from her.
- They expected all their children to be high achievers.
- You are entitled to expect certain minimum standards of accommodation.
- We expect good results from our employees.
- They rightly expect to be obeyed.
- I think my parents always expected too much of me.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- confidently
- fully
- rightly
- …
- be fair to
- be natural to
- be reasonable to
- …
- from
- as expected
- (only) to be expected
- be widely expected
- …
- I expect[intransitive, transitive] (especially British English, informal) (not used in the progressive tenses) used when you think something is probably true
- ‘Will you be late?’ ‘I expect so.’
- ‘Are you going out tonight?’ ‘I don't expect so.’
- expect (that…) ‘Who’s eaten all the cake?’ ‘Tom, I expect/I expect it was Tom.’
compare unexpected
Word Originmid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘defer action, wait’): from Latin exspectare ‘look out for’, from ex- ‘out’ + spectare ‘to look’ (frequentative of specere ‘see’).
Idioms
be expecting (a baby/child)
- (informal) to be pregnant
- Ann's expecting a baby in June.
- I didn't know she was expecting!
be (only) to be expected
- to be likely to happen; to be quite normal
- A little tiredness after taking these drugs is to be expected.
what (else) do you expect?
- (informal) used to tell somebody not to be surprised by something
- She swore at you? What do you expect when you treat her like that?