Word
anticipate
Phoneticsan·tic·i·pate, stress on the second syllable
US/ænˈtɪsəˌpeɪt/
UK/æntˈɪsɪpˌeɪt/
Definitions
01to expect and prepare
B2 · Upper Intermediate Academic
v. to imagine that something will happen and take action to be ready for it.
v. to foresee a future event and take preparatory action. Transitive; often takes a direct object or a 'that' clause.
日本語:見込む※
“The shop owners anticipate a busy weekend, so they have ordered extra stock.”
“Economists anticipate that the central bank will raise interest rates in response to the latest inflation data, prompting investors to adjust their portfolios accordingly.”
Pitfall
We anticipate to finish the project by Friday.
We anticipate finishing the project by Friday.
When followed by another verb, anticipate takes the -ing form, not the infinitive with 'to'.
02to look forward to
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to wait for something with excitement or pleasure.
v. to look forward to an event with a degree of pleasure or excitement.
日本語:待つ※
“The children are eagerly anticipating their first trip to the beach.”
“Fans have been anticipating the sequel for years, creating a level of hype that the studio is struggling to manage.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03to act before someone else
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to do something before someone else can do it, often to stop them.
v. to act in advance of another to prevent or check their intended action.
“The goalkeeper anticipated the striker's move and blocked the shot.”
“By launching their own version of the software early, the company managed to anticipate their competitor's market entry and secure a dominant position.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “anticipate” in context.
Verb
01. anticipate problems
“A good project manager should be able to anticipate problems before they occur.”
verb + noun
02. anticipate that-clause
“Economists anticipate that interest rates will remain stable for the rest of the year.”
verb + that-clause
03. eagerly anticipate
“Fans are eagerly anticipating the release of the singer's new album next month.”
adv + verb
Adverb
04. fully anticipate
“We fully anticipate a positive response from the board regarding our proposal.”
adv + verb
05. hardly anticipate
“I could hardly anticipate the massive success that the small business would achieve.”
adv + verb
Real-World Examples
“A key advantage of weighted funding is that it makes it easier for districts to anticipate future revenues and plan their budgets.” “If we are to improve our capacity for anticipating, preventing and responding to the next pandemic, several things must happen.” “We must also learn to anticipate and adapt to their far-reaching effects on air quality, health and even the weather.” “Chiessi hopes his work will improve AMOC forecasts and help develop systems that identify climate signals anticipating abrupt changes.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin anticipātus, perfect passive participle of anticipō (“to anticipate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ante- (“before”), + capiō (“to take”, cip- when prefixed) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). See capable.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/anticipate
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0