Word
expectation
Phoneticsex·pec·ta·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɛkspɛkˈteɪʃən/
UK/ɛkspɪktˈeɪʃən/
Definitions
01anticipation
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the feeling or state of waiting for something to happen.
n. the act or state of looking forward to an event as imminent or certain.
“There is a general expectation that the weather will improve by the weekend.”
“The atmosphere in the stadium was thick with expectation as the fans waited for the championship match to begin.”
Synonyms
02standards or hopes
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a strong belief about how someone should behave or what they should achieve.
n. a standard of conduct or performance expected by others.
“My parents have high expectations for my final exam results.”
“The new CEO struggled to meet the unrealistic expectations of the board members during her first quarter.”
Pitfall
The movie didn't reach my expectations.
The movie didn't live up to my expectations.
We usually use the phrasal verb 'live up to' or the verb 'meet' when talking about expectations.
Synonyms
03average value
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Mathematics Technical
n. the average result you would get if you repeated an experiment many times.
n. the long-run average value of a random variable over many independent repetitions of an experiment.
“In this game of chance, the mathematical expectation is that you will lose money over time.”
“The researcher calculated the mathematical expectation of the variable to determine the most likely outcome of the clinical trial.”
Synonyms
04natural healing
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Medicine Technical · Archaic
n. waiting for a disease to get better on its own without using strong medicine.
n. the practice of leaving a disease to the natural healing efforts of the body rather than intervening with active treatment.
“The doctor suggested a period of expectation to see if the cough cleared up naturally.”
“In historical medical texts, 'expectation' refers to a conservative approach where the physician monitors the patient without administering drugs.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “expectation” in context.
Adjective
01. unrealistic expectation
“Setting an unrealistic expectation for your first marathon can lead to disappointment.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“The economy expanded by 0.4%, in line with market expectations but below a 0.6% increase in the first three months of this year.” “Financial markets reacted calmly to the latest figures, with stocks little changed as the numbers were broadly in line with market expectations.” “But it is reasonable to downgrade your expectations for how much time, attention and energy you will have for video games when you have a new baby in the house.” “Psychology has a name for the power of negative expectations: the nocebo effect.” Etymology
From Middle French expectation, from Latin exspectātiō, from exspectō (“expect”). By surface analysis, expect + -ation. Displaced native Old English wēn.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
In Literature
Cover: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — Chapman & Hall.
Great Expectations · 1861-03-23 · Victorian realism, bildungsroman
- Author:
- Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens's classic novel follows an orphan named Pip who suddenly receives a large fortune from a mysterious benefactor. As he moves to London to become a gentleman, he struggles to live up to the social and personal standards imposed by his new status. The title refers to these high hopes for his future and the pressure of meeting society's demands.
Domains
- 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
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/expectation