20 results for: Expect

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

ex·pect

Audio Help [ik-spekt] Pronunciation Key

–verb (used with object)

1.	to look forward to; regard as likely to happen; anticipate the occurrence or the coming of: I expect to read it. I expect him later. She expects that they will come.

2.	to look for with reason or justification: We expect obedience.

3.	Informal. to suppose or surmise; guess: I expect that you are tired from the trip.

4.	to anticipate the birth of (one's child): Paul and Sylvia expect their second very soon.

—Idiom

5.	be expecting, to be pregnant: The cat is expecting again.

[Origin: 1550–60; < L ex(s)pectāre to look out for, await, equiv. to ex- ex-¹ + spectāre to look at, freq. of specere; see spectacle

]

—Related forms

ex·pect·a·ble, adjective

ex·pect·a·bly, adverb

ex·pect·ed·ly, adverb

ex·pect·ed·ness, noun

ex·pect·er, noun

ex·pect·ing·ly, adverb

—Synonyms 1. Expect, anticipate, hope, await all imply looking to some future event. Expect implies confidently believing, usually for good reasons, that an event will occur: to expect a visit from a friend. Anticipate is to look forward to an event and even to picture it: Do you anticipate trouble? Hope implies a wish that an event may take place and an expectation that it will: to hope for the best. Await (wait for) implies being alert and ready, whether for good or evil: to await news after a cyclone.

—Usage note 3. This sense of expect (I expect you went with them. I expect you want to leave now.) is encountered in the speech of educated people but seldom in their writing.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Expect

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

ex·pect Audio Help   (ĭk-spěkt') Pronunciation Key
v.   ex·pect·ed, ex·pect·ing, ex·pects

v.   tr.

1. To look forward to the probable occurrence or appearance of: expecting a telephone call; expects rain on Sunday.
2. To consider likely or certain: expect to see them soon. See Usage Note at anticipate.
To consider reasonable or due: We expect an apology.
To consider obligatory; require: The school expects its pupils to be on time.
Informal To presume; suppose.

v. intr.

To look forward to the birth of one's child. Used in progressive tenses: His sister is expecting in May.
To be pregnant. Used in progressive tenses: My wife is expecting again.

[Latin exspectāre : ex-, ex- + spectāre, to look at, frequentative of specere, to see; see spek- in Indo-European roots.]

ex·pect'a·ble adj., ex·pect'a·bly adv., ex·pect'ed·ly adv., ex·pect'ed·ness n.

Synonyms: These verbs relate to the idea of looking ahead to something in the future. To expect is to look forward to the likely occurrence or appearance of someone or something: "We should not expect something for nothing—but we all do and call it Hope" (Edgar W. Howe).
Anticipate sometimes refers to taking advance action, as to forestall or prevent the occurrence of something expected or to meet a wish or request before it is articulated: anticipated the attack and locked the gates.
The term can also refer to having a foretaste of something expected: anticipate trouble.
To hope is to look forward with desire and usually with a measure of confidence in the likelihood of gaining what is desired: I hope to see you soon.
To await is to wait expectantly and with certainty: eagerly awaiting your letter.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
expect

1393 (implied in expectant), from L. expectare "await, hope," from ex- "thoroughly" + spectare "to look," freq. of specere "to look at" (see scope (1)). Fig. sense of "anticipate, look forward to" developed in Latin. Used since 1817 as a euphemism for "be pregnant."

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

expect
verb
1.	regard something as probable or likely; "The meteorologists are expecting rain for tomorrow"
2.	consider obligatory; request and expect; "We require our secretary to be on time"; "Aren't we asking too much of these children?"; "I expect my students to arrive in time for their lessons" [syn: ask]
3.	look forward to the probable occurrence of; "We were expecting a visit from our relatives"; "She is looking to a promotion"; "he is waiting to be drafted"
4.	consider reasonable or due; "I'm expecting a full explanation as to why these files were destroyed"
5.	look forward to the birth of a child; "She is expecting in March"
6.	be pregnant with; "She is bearing his child"; "The are expecting another child in January"; "I am carrying his child" [syn: have a bun in the oven]

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version) - Cite This Source - Share This
expect1 [ikˈspekt] verb

to think of as likely to happen or come
Example: I'm expecting a letter today; We expect her on tomorrow's train.

Arabic:	يَتَوَقَّع
Chinese (Simplified):	期待
Chinese (Traditional):	期待
Czech:	očekávat
Danish:	forvente; regne med
Dutch:	verwachten
Estonian:	ootama
Finnish:	odottaa
French:	attendre
German:	erwarten
Greek:	προσδοκώ, περιμένω
Hungarian:	vár
Icelandic:	búast við
Indonesian:	menunggu
Italian:	aspettare

Japanese:	待ちうける
Korean:	기대하다
Latvian:	gaidīt
Lithuanian:	laukti
Norwegian:	(for)vente
Polish:	spodziewać się
Portuguese (Brazil):	esperar
Portuguese (Portugal):	esperar
Romanian:	a (se) aştepta
Russian:	ожидать
Slovak:	očakávať
Slovenian:	pričakovati
Spanish:	esperar
Swedish:	vänta
Turkish:	beklemek

expect2 [ikˈspekt] verb

to think or believe (that something will happen)
Example: He expects to be home tomorrow; I expect that he will go; `Will she go too?' `I expect so' / `I don't expect so' / `I expect not.'

Arabic:	يَعْتَقِد، يَتَوَقَّع
Chinese (Simplified):	预料
Chinese (Traditional):	預料
Czech:	předpokládat, myslit
Danish:	forvente; regne med
Dutch:	verwachten
Estonian:	lootma
Finnish:	olettaa
French:	croire
German:	'rechnen auf
Greek:	πιστεύω, αναμένω
Hungarian:	gondol, hisz
Icelandic:	búast við, vænta
Indonesian:	menduga
Italian:	credere

Japanese:	予期する
Korean:	예상하다
Latvian:	cerēt; domāt
Lithuanian:	tikėtis
Norwegian:	regne med, anta (at)
Polish:	spodziewać się
Portuguese (Brazil):	acreditar
Portuguese (Portugal):	acreditar
Romanian:	a crede
Russian:	надеяться
Slovak:	dúfať
Slovenian:	misliti
Spanish:	esperar; creer
Swedish:	räkna med, tro
Turkish:	sanmak

expect3 [ikˈspekt] verb

to require
Example: They expect high wages for their professional work; You are expected to tidy your own room.

Arabic:	يُتَوَقَّع من، يُنْتَظَر
Chinese (Simplified):	要求
Chinese (Traditional):	要求
Czech:	vyžadovat
Danish:	kræve; regne med; forvente
Dutch:	verwachten
Estonian:	nõudma, eeldama
Finnish:	vaatia, edellyttää
French:	exiger, *attendre (qqch. de qqn)
German:	erwarten
Greek:	απαιτώ
Hungarian:	elvár
Icelandic:	ætlast til, krefjast
Indonesian:	memerlukan, mengharapkan
Italian:	aspettarsi, esigere

Japanese:	求める
Korean:	요구하다
Latvian:	sagaidīt
Lithuanian:	reikalauti
Norwegian:	kreve, forlange
Polish:	oczekiwać
Portuguese (Brazil):	contar com
Portuguese (Portugal):	esperar(-se)
Romanian:	a pretinde
Russian:	рассчитывать на
Slovak:	očakávať
Slovenian:	pričakovati
Spanish:	esperar
Swedish:	förvänta
Turkish:	istemek, gerekmek

expect4 [ikˈspekt] verb

to suppose or assume
Example: I expect (that) you're tired.

Arabic:	يَفْتَرِض، يَظُن، يَعْتَقِد
Chinese (Simplified):	料想
Chinese (Traditional):	料想
Czech:	předpokládat
Danish:	formode
Dutch:	aannemen
Estonian:	oletama
Finnish:	otaksua
French:	supposer (que)
German:	annehmen
Greek:	υποθέτω
Hungarian:	valószínűnek tart
Icelandic:	gera ráð fyrir, þykjast vita
Indonesian:	mengira
Italian:	supporre

Japanese:	～と思う
Korean:	생각하다
Latvian:	domāt
Lithuanian:	manyti
Norwegian:	anta (at), ta for gitt
Polish:	spodziewać się
Portuguese (Brazil):	supor
Portuguese (Portugal):	supor
Romanian:	a bănui
Russian:	предполагать
Slovak:	predpokladať
Slovenian:	domnevati
Spanish:	suponer
Swedish:	anta, förmoda
Turkish:	düşünmek, sanmak

See also: expectancy, expectant, expectation

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Main Entry: ex·pect
Pronunciation: ik-'spekt
Function: intransitive verb
: to be pregnant : await the birth of one's child —used in progressive tenses <she's expecting next month>

Free On-line Dictionary of Computing - Cite This Source - Share This

expect language, tool
A Unix tool written in Tcl and a script language for automating the operation of interactive applications such as telnet, FTP, passwd, fsck, rlogin, tip, etc.. Expect can feed input to other programs and perform pattern matching on their output. It is also useful for testing these applications. By adding Tk, you can also wrap interactive applications in X11 GUIs.
Home.
["expect: Scripts for Controlling Interactive Tasks", Don Libes, Comp Sys 4(2), U Cal Press Journals, Nov 1991].
(1997-06-09)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Expect

An*tic"i*pate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Anticipated; p. pr. & vb. n. Anticipating.] [L. anticipatus, p. p. of anticipare to anticipate; ante + capere to make. See Capable.]

1. To be before in doing; to do or take before another; to preclude or prevent by prior action.

To anticipate and prevent the duke's purpose. --R. Hall.

He would probably have died by the hand of the executioner, if indeed the executioner had not been anticipated by the populace. --Macaulay.

2. To take up or introduce beforehand, or before the proper or normal time; to cause to occur earlier or prematurely; as, the advocate has anticipated a part of his argument.

3. To foresee (a wish, command, etc.) and do beforehand that which will be desired.

4. To foretaste or foresee; to have a previous view or impression of; as, to anticipate the pleasures of a visit; to anticipate the evils of life.

Syn: To prevent; obviate; preclude; forestall; expect.

Usage: To Anticipate, Expect. These words, as here compared, agree in regarding some future event as about to take place. Expect is the stringer. It supposes some ground or reason in the mind for considering the event as likely to happen. Anticipate is, literally, to take beforehand, and here denotes simply to take into the mind as conception of the future. Hence, to say, "I did not anticipate a refusal," expresses something less definite and strong than to say, " did not expect it." Still, anticipate is a convenient word to be interchanged with expect in cases where the thought will allow.

Good with bad Expect to hear; supernal grace contending With sinfulness of men. --Milton.

I would not anticipate the relish of any happiness, nor feel the weight of any misery, before it actually arrives. --Spectator.

Timid men were anticipating another civil war. --Macaulay.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Expect

A*wait"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Awaited; p. pr. & vb. n. Awaiting.] [OF. awaitier, agaitier; ? (L. ad) + waitier, gaitier to watch, F. guetter. See Wait.]

1. To watch for; to look out for. [Obs.]

2. To wait on, serve, or attend. [Obs.]

3. To wait for; to stay for; to expect. See Expect.

Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat, Chief of the angelic guards, awaiting night. --Milton.

4. To be in store for; to be ready or in waiting for; as, a glorious reward awaits the good.

O Eve, some farther change awaits us night. --Milton.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Expect

Be*lieve"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Believed; p. pr. & vb. n. Believing.] [OE. bileven (with pref. be- for AS. ge-), fr. AS. gel?fan, gel?fan; akin to D. gelooven, OHG. gilouban, G. glauben, OS. gil?bian, Goth. galaubjan, and Goth. liubs dear. See Lief, a., Leave, n.] To exercise belief in; to credit upon the authority or testimony of another; to be persuaded of the truth of, upon evidence furnished by reasons, arguments, and deductions of the mind, or by circumstances other than personal knowledge; to regard or accept as true; to place confidence in; to think; to consider; as, to believe a person, a statement, or a doctrine.

Our conqueror (whom I now Of force believe almighty). --Milton.

King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets ? --Acts xxvi. 27.

Often followed by a dependent clause. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. --Acts viii. 37.

Syn: See Expect.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Expect

Ex*pect"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Expected; p. pr. & vb. n. Expecting.] [L. expectatum, to look out for, await, expect; ex + out spectare to look at. See Spectacle.]

1. To wait for; to await. [Obs.]

Let's in, and there expect their coming. --Shak.

2. To look for (mentally); to look forward to, as to something that is believed to be about to happen or come; to have a previous apprehension of, whether of good or evil; to look for with some confidence; to anticipate; -- often followed by an infinitive, sometimes by a clause (with, or without, that); as, I expect to receive wages; I expect that the troops will be defeated. "Good: I will expect you." --Shak. "Expecting thy reply." --Shak.

The Somersetshire or yellow regiment . . . was expected to arrive on the following day. --Macaulay.

Syn: To anticipate; look for; await; hope.

Usage: To Expect, Think, Believe, Await. Expect is a mental act and has aways a reference to the future, to some coming event; as a person expects to die, or he expects to survive. Think and believe have reference to the past and present, as well as to the future; as I think the mail has arrived; I believe he came home yesterday, that he is he is at home now. There is a not uncommon use of expect, which is a confusion of the two; as, I expect the mail has arrived; I expect he is at home. This misuse should be avoided. Await is a physical or moral act. We await that which, when it comes, will affect us personally. We expect what may, or may not, interest us personally. See Anticipate.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Expect

Ex*pect"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Expected; p. pr. & vb. n. Expecting.] [L. expectatum, to look out for, await, expect; ex + out spectare to look at. See Spectacle.]

1. To wait for; to await. [Obs.]

Let's in, and there expect their coming. --Shak.

The Somersetshire or yellow regiment . . . was expected to arrive on the following day. --Macaulay.

Syn: To anticipate; look for; await; hope.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Expect

Ex*pect"\, v. t. To wait; to stay. [Obs.] --Sandys.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Expect

Ex*pect"\, n. Expectation. [Obs.] --Shak.

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Expect

Re"tro*spect\, v. i. [L. retrospicere; retro back + specere, spectum, to look. See Spy, and cf. Expect.] To look backward; hence, to affect or concern what is past.

It may be useful to retrospect to an early period. --A. Hamilton.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Expect

Think\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Thought; p. pr. & vb. n. Thinking.] [OE. thinken, properly, to seem, from AS. [thorn]yncean (cf. Methinks), but confounded with OE. thenken to think, fr. AS. [thorn]encean (imp. [thorn][=o]hte); akin to D. denken, dunken, OS. thenkian, thunkian, G. denken, d["u]nken, Icel. [thorn]ekkja to perceive, to know, [thorn]ykkja to seem, Goth. [thorn]agkjan, [thorn]aggkjan, to think, [thorn]ygkjan to think, to seem, OL. tongere to know. Cf. Thank, Thought.]

1. To seem or appear; -- used chiefly in the expressions methinketh or methinks, and methought.

Note: These are genuine Anglo-Saxon expressions, equivalent to it seems to me, it seemed to me. In these expressions me is in the dative case.

2. To employ any of the intellectual powers except that of simple perception through the senses; to exercise the higher intellectual faculties.

For that I am I know, because I think. --Dryden.

3. Specifically: (a) To call anything to mind; to remember; as, I would have sent the books, but I did not think of it.

Well thought upon; I have it here. --Shak. (b) To reflect upon any subject; to muse; to meditate; to ponder; to consider; to deliberate.

And when he thought thereon, he wept. --Mark xiv. 72.

He thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? --Luke xii. 17. (c) To form an opinion by reasoning; to judge; to conclude; to believe; as, I think it will rain to-morrow.

Let them marry to whom they think best. --Num. xxxvi. 6. (d) To purpose; to intend; to design; to mean.

I thought to promote thee unto great honor. --Num. xxiv. 11.

Thou thought'st to help me. --Shak. (e) To presume; to venture.

Think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father. --Matt. iii. 9.

Note: To think, in a philosophical use as yet somewhat limited, designates the higher intellectual acts, the acts pre["e]minently rational; to judge; to compare; to reason. Thinking is employed by Hamilton as "comprehending all our collective energies." It is defined by Mansel as "the act of knowing or judging by means of concepts,"by Lotze as "the reaction of the mind on the material supplied by external influences." See Thought.

To think better of. See under Better.

To think much of, or To think well of, to hold in esteem; to esteem highly.

Syn: To expect; guess; cogitate; reflect; ponder; contemplate; meditate; muse; imagine; suppose; believe. See Expect, Guess.

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