Nearby Words
verb (used with object)
1.
to realize beforehand; foretaste or foresee: to anticipate pleasure.
2.
to expect; look forward to; be sure of: to anticipate a favorable decision.
3.
to perform (an action) before another has had time to act.
4.
to answer (a question), obey (a command), or satisfy (a request) before it is made: He anticipated each of my orders.
5.
EXPANDto nullify, prevent, or forestall by taking countermeasures in advance: to anticipate a military attack.
6.
to consider or mention before the proper time: to anticipate more difficult questions.
7.
to be before (another) in doing, thinking, achieving, etc.: Many modern inventions were anticipated by Leonardo da Vinci.
8.
COLLAPSEFinance.
a.
to expend (funds) before they are legitimately available for use.
b.
to discharge (an obligation) before it is due.
verb (used without object)
9.
to think, speak, act, or feel an emotional response in advance.
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Anticipate
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is fletcherise. Does it mean:
| chat, to converse |
| to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly. |
Origin:
1525–35; < Latin anticipātus taken before, anticipated (past participle of anticipāre), equivalent to anti- (variant of ante- ante-) + -cip- (combining form of capere to take) + -ātus -ate1
1525–35; < Latin anticipātus taken before, anticipated (past participle of anticipāre), equivalent to anti- (variant of ante- ante-) + -cip- (combining form of capere to take) + -ātus -ate1
Related forms
an·tic·i·pat·a·ble, adjective
an·tic·i·pa·tor, noun
pre·an·tic·i·pate, verb (used with object), -pat·ed, -pat·ing.
un·an·tic·i·pat·ed, adjective
un·an·tic·i·pat·ing, adjective
EXPANDUsage note
Despite claims that anticipate should only be used to mean “to perform (an action) or respond to (a question, etc.) in advance” or “to forestall,” it has been used widely since the 18th century as a synonym for expect, often with an implication of pleasure: We anticipate a large turnout at the next meeting. This use is standard in all types of speech and writing.
Despite claims that anticipate should only be used to mean “to perform (an action) or respond to (a question, etc.) in advance” or “to forestall,” it has been used widely since the 18th century as a synonym for expect, often with an implication of pleasure: We anticipate a large turnout at the next meeting. This use is standard in all types of speech and writing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To anticipate
Example Sentences
- But she clearly didn't anticipate how this would affect her.
- Human behaviour is tough to predict and when humans try to anticipate what other humans will do—you can get a big mess.
- We recall the past and make commitments that anticipate the future.
Collins
World English Dictionary
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
anticipate
1530s, "to cause to happen sooner," from L. anticipatus, pp. of anticipare "take (care of) ahead of time," lit. "taking into possession beforehand," from ante "before" (see ante) + capere "to take" (see capable). Later "to be aware of (something)
EXPANDcoming at a future time" (1640s). Used in the sense of "expect, look forward to" since 1749, but anticipate has an element of "prepare for, forestall" that should prevent its being used as a synonym for expect. Related: Anticipatory (1660s).
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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