anticipate
to realize beforehand; foretaste or foresee: to anticipate pleasure.
to expect; look forward to; be sure of: to anticipate a favorable decision.
to perform (an action) before another has had time to act.
to answer (a question), obey (a command), or satisfy (a request) before it is made: He anticipated each of my orders.
to nullify, prevent, or forestall by taking countermeasures in advance: to anticipate a military attack.
to consider or mention before the proper time: to anticipate more difficult questions.
to be before (another) in doing, thinking, achieving, etc.: Many modern inventions were anticipated by Leonardo da Vinci.
Finance.
to expend (funds) before they are legitimately available for use.
to discharge (an obligation) before it is due.
to think, speak, act, or feel an emotional response in advance.
Origin of anticipate
1usage note For anticipate
Other words for anticipate
Other words from anticipate
- an·tic·i·pat·a·ble, adjective
- an·tic·i·pa·tor, noun
- pre·an·tic·i·pate, verb (used with object), pre·an·tic·i·pat·ed, pre·an·tic·i·pat·ing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for anticipate
/ (ænˈtɪsɪˌpeɪt) /
(may take a clause as object) to foresee and act in advance of: he anticipated the fall in value by selling early
to thwart by acting in advance of; forestall: I anticipated his punch by moving out of reach
(also intr) to mention (something) before its proper time: don't anticipate the climax of the story
(may take a clause as object) to regard as likely; expect; foresee: he anticipated that it would happen
to make use of in advance of possession: he anticipated his salary in buying a house
to pay (a bill, etc) before it falls due
to cause to happen sooner: the spread of nationalism anticipated the decline of the Empire
Origin of anticipate
1usage For anticipate
Derived forms of anticipate
- anticipator, noun
- anticipatory or anticipative, adjective
- anticipatorily or anticipatively, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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