Meaning & use
expect
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To think that something will happen or that someone will come, because of what you know.
Grammar: Takes an object or clause: expect rain, expect that it will rain, expect to win.
Patterns
- expect something
- expect to do something
- expect that ...
We expect heavy traffic this evening.
I didn't expect to see you here.
verbtransitive
To believe that someone should do something, or that you have a right to get it.
Grammar: Often followed by someone to do something: expect him to apologize.
Patterns
- expect something from someone
- expect someone to do something
The teacher expects students to arrive on time.
You can't expect good results without practice.
verbtransitive or intransitive
To be waiting for a baby to be born, or for a package or visitor to arrive.
Grammar: Can be used without an object for pregnancy: she is expecting.
Patterns
- be expecting someone
- be expecting a baby
They are expecting their first child in May.
I'm expecting a parcel, so please sign for it.
Word forms
| third person singular | expects |
|---|---|
| past tense | expected |
| past participle | expected |
| -ing form | expecting |
Common combinations
- expect the unexpected
- When you travel, expect the unexpected.
- fully expect
- I fully expect to be late.
- expect a lot of someone
- Her parents expect a lot of her.
- as expected
- As expected, the train was delayed.
- expect better
- Customers expect better service.
Synonyms and how they differ
- anticipate
- More formal, and often implies preparing for what you foresee.
- predict
- Means stating what will happen, not just privately thinking it.
- demand
- Much stronger than the second sense of expect, which is polite but firm.
Opposites
Word family
- expectation noun
- a belief about what will happen
- expected adjective
- anticipated
- unexpected adjective
- surprising
- expectant adjective
- waiting with hope, or pregnant
Commonly confused: expect or hope? expect or suspect?
expect vs hope
Hope shows a wish; expect shows a belief that something is likely.
expect vs suspect
Suspect means to think something, often bad, may be true without proof.
Practice
The manager ______ everyone to attend Monday's meeting.
Choose one answer.
Expect + object + to-infinitive fits the sense of requiring. The other choices do not take that pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “expect”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.