# anticipated

/ænˈtɪsəˌpeɪtɪd/ (US) · /æntˈɪsɪpˌeɪtɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/anticipated
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to expect or predict

verb · CEFR B2

to think that something will happen in the future and perhaps prepare for it.

For teachers: to foresee or predict a future event and take action in expectation of it. Often used with a direct object or a 'that' clause.

- The company anticipated a drop in sales during the winter months.
- Economists had anticipated the market correction for several months, though the speed of the decline caught many retail investors by surprise.

Usage: Often followed by a noun phrase or a gerund (-ing form).

### 2. expected or awaited

adjective · CEFR B2

describing something that people are waiting for or expecting to happen.

For teachers: functioning as a participial adjective to describe an event, arrival, or result that is expected or looked forward to.

- The highly anticipated movie finally opened in cinemas last night.
- The long-anticipated report on urban infrastructure was finally released to the public, sparking immediate debate among city planners.

Usage: Commonly used in the attributive position before a noun.

## Examples

- We anticipated a large crowd and hired extra staff.
- The marketing team anticipated the shift in consumer trends and launched their digital campaign early.
- Although the architect anticipated structural challenges during the renovation, the discovery of a hidden basement required a complete revision of the original blueprints.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.