Meaning & use
long-anticipated
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Meaning
adjectivebefore a noun
expected or awaited for a long time, often with excitement
Grammar: Used before a noun: the long-anticipated event. Not usually after a verb like 'be'.
Patterns
- long-anticipated event
- long-anticipated release
- long-anticipated return
The long-anticipated film finally came out last week.
Fans gathered for the long-anticipated concert.
Her long-anticipated promotion was announced yesterday.
Common combinations
- long-anticipated event
- The long-anticipated event drew a huge crowd.
- long-anticipated release
- The long-anticipated release of the game was delayed.
- long-anticipated return
- His long-anticipated return to the stage thrilled fans.
Synonyms and how they differ
- eagerly awaited
- Similar meaning, but 'eagerly awaited' often comes after the noun: 'the results were eagerly awaited'.
- long-awaited
- Very close synonym; 'long-awaited' is more common and slightly more formal.
Opposites
Word family
- anticipate verb
- to expect something to happen
- anticipation noun
- the feeling of excitement about something that will happen
Practice
Which sentence uses 'long-anticipated' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Long-anticipated' is an adjective that usually comes before the noun, as in 'the long-anticipated movie'. Option A places it after 'was', which is less common; option C uses it as a verb, which is wrong; option D puts it after the noun, which is not standard.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “long-anticipated”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.