expectation

[ ek-spek-tey-shuhn ]
See synonyms for expectation on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the act or the state of expecting: to wait in expectation.

  2. the act or state of looking forward or anticipating.

  1. an expectant mental attitude: a high pitch of expectation.

  2. something expected; a thing looked forward to.

  3. Often expectations. a prospect of future good or profit: to have great expectations.

  4. the degree of probability that something will occur: There is little expectation that he will come.

  5. Mathematics, Statistics. mathematical expectation.

  6. the state of being expected: a large sum of money in expectation.

Origin of expectation

1
First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin ex(s)pectātiōn-, stem of ex(s)pectātiō “anticipation, suspense,” from ex(s)pectāt(us) (past participle of ex(s)pectāre “to look out for, await”) + -iō -ion;see expect

Other words for expectation

Other words from expectation

  • ex·pec·ta·tion·al, adjective
  • ex·pec·ta·tion·ist, noun
  • o·ver·ex·pec·ta·tion, noun
  • pre·ex·pec·ta·tion, noun
  • su·per·ex·pec·ta·tion, noun

Words that may be confused with expectation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for expectation

expectation

/ (ˌɛkspɛkˈteɪʃən) /


noun
  1. the act or state of expecting or the state of being expected

  2. (usually plural) something looked forward to, whether feared or hoped for: we have great expectations for his future; their worst expectations

  1. an attitude of expectancy or hope; anticipation: to regard something with expectation

  2. statistics

    • the numerical probability that an event will occur

    • another term for expected value

Derived forms of expectation

  • expectative (ɪkˈspɛktətɪv), adjective

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