anticipateverb [ T ]
uk/ænˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/us/ænˈtɪs.ə.peɪt/anticipate verb [ T ] (EXPECT)
C1 to imagine or expect that something will happen:
We don't anticipate any trouble.
We had one or two difficulties along the way that we didn't anticipate.
Are you anticipating a lot of people at the party tonight?
[ + -ing verb ] They anticipate having several applicants for the job.
[ + that ] They anticipate that they will have several applicants for the job
[ + question word ] At this stage we can't really anticipate what will happen.
The anticipated inflation figure is lower than last month's.
More examples
- We've tried to anticipate the most likely problems, but it's impossible to be prepared for every eventuality.
- We don't anticipate any snags with the negotiations.
- We thought the concert in the park would be popular but we didn't anticipate so many people turning up.
- The holiday cost a lot more than we had anticipated.
- Police are anticipating trouble at tonight's game.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Planning, expecting and arranging
- accidentally
- accidentally on purpose idiom
- advertent
- advisedly
- aim
- aim at sth
- calculate
- chart
- engineer
- in the pipeline idiom
- intend
- intent
- intention
- intentional
- promise
- scheme
- scientific
- see sth coming idiom
- set sth up
- strategic
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anticipate verb [ T ] (TAKE ACTION)
C1 to take action in preparation for something that you think will happen:
It's always best to anticipate a problem before it arises.
The army anticipated (= took action in preparation for) the explosion by evacuating the town.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Planning, expecting and arranging
- accidentally
- accidentally on purpose idiom
- advertent
- advisedly
- aim
- aim at sth
- calculate
- chart
- engineer
- in the pipeline idiom
- intend
- intent
- intention
- intentional
- promise
- scheme
- scientific
- see sth coming idiom
- set sth up
- strategic
See more results »