anticipate
verb
an·tic·i·pate
an-ˈti-sə-ˌpāt 
anticipated; anticipating
1
: to give advance thought, discussion, or treatment to
2
: to meet (an obligation) before a due date
3
: to foresee and deal with in advance : forestall
4
: to use or expend in advance of actual possession
5
: to act before (another) often so as to check or counter
6
: to look forward to as certain : expect
We don't anticipate any problems during the construction.
: to speak or write in knowledge or expectation of later matter
Examples of anticipate in a Sentence
The cost turned out to be higher than anticipated.
The author anticipated objections to his theory.
The organizers of the fair anticipate a large crowd.
I did not anticipate having to pay for your ticket.
He eagerly anticipated her arrival.
Recent Examples on the Web
Traders read the jobs data as likely to push back the timing of rate cuts on net, and now anticipate about 1.5 quarter-point reductions this year, according to futures contracts.
—
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 8 June 2024
There may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended.
—Kansas City Star, 7 June 2024
Newsom restored the deductions and ended the tax limits one year early in 2022 when the state anticipated a massive budget surplus.
—Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024
Instead, a voter requested to pay for a recount, anticipating a refund of their money if the outcome changed.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 5 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for anticipate 
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 8 June 2024
There may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended.
—Kansas City Star, 7 June 2024
Newsom restored the deductions and ended the tax limits one year early in 2022 when the state anticipated a massive budget surplus.
—Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024
Instead, a voter requested to pay for a recount, anticipating a refund of their money if the outcome changed.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 5 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for anticipate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'anticipate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near anticipate
Cite this Entry
“Anticipate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anticipate. Accessed 12 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
anticipate
verb
an·tic·i·pate
an-ˈtis-ə-ˌpāt
anticipated; anticipating
1
: to foresee and deal with or provide for beforehand
anticipated their objections
anticipated my every need
2
: to look forward to as certain
Medical Definition
anticipate
verb
an·tic·i·pate
an-ˈtis-ə-ˌpāt
anticipated; anticipating
: to give advance thought to
: to come before the expected time
—used especially of medical symptoms
Legal Definition
anticipate
transitive verb
an·tic·i·pate
an-ˈti-sə-ˌpāt
anticipated; anticipating
1
: to bar or invalidate (a patent) by anticipation
the patent on the compound had been anticipated by the Beilstein reference—Misani v. Ortho Pharm. Corp., 210 A.2d 609 (1965)
Misani v. Ortho Pharm. Corp., 210 A.2d 609 (1965)2
: to negate the novelty of (an invention) by its appearance in prior art
appeared to have anticipated a variable light makeup mirror—Wilson v. Bristol-Myers Co., 503 N.Y.S.2d 334 (1986)
Wilson v. Bristol-Myers Co., 503 N.Y.S.2d 334 (1986)Love words? Need even more definitions?
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