# expecting

/ɪkˈspɛktɪŋ/ (US) · /ɛkspˈɛktɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. anticipating something

verb · CEFR B1

thinking or believing that something will happen soon.

For teachers: anticipating a future event or arrival based on probability or a previous arrangement.

- We are expecting a heavy storm later this afternoon, so stay inside.
- The analysts were expecting a significant rise in market volatility following the central bank's announcement, though the actual reaction was surprisingly muted.

### 2. pregnant

adjective · CEFR B1

used to say that a woman is going to have a baby.

For teachers: pregnant; used as a predicative adjective to describe a woman or couple awaiting the birth of a child.

- They just announced that they are expecting their first child in June.
- The company provides additional health benefits for expecting mothers to ensure they receive proper prenatal care throughout their term.

### 3. the act of waiting

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

the act or state of waiting for something to happen.

For teachers: the state or process of anticipation or waiting for a predicted outcome.

- After hours of expecting, the news finally arrived.
- The long years of expecting had worn down his patience, leaving him cynical about the eventual arrival of the inheritance.

## Examples

- She is expecting a phone call from her doctor today.
- The company is expecting a significant increase in sales during the holiday season.
- Economists are expecting the central bank to raise interest rates by half a percentage point in response to the latest inflation data.

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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.