Etimology
From Latin expectāre, infinitive form of exspectō (“look out for, await, expect”), from ex (“out”) + spectō (“look at”), frequentative of speciō (“see”).
verb
expect (third-person singular simple present expects, present participle expecting, simple past and past participle expected)
(transitive, intransitive) To predict or believe that something will happen
To consider obligatory or required.
To consider reasonably due.
(continuous aspect only, of a woman or couple) To be pregnant, to consider a baby due.
(obsolete, transitive) To wait for; to await.
(obsolete, intransitive) To wait; to stay.
Examples
Synonyms: anticipate, hope, look for
I expect to be able to walk again after getting over my broken leg.
He never expected to be discovered.
We ended up waiting a little longer than we had expected
The doctor said he expected me to make a full recovery.
“ […] They talk of you as if you were Croesus—and I expect the beggars sponge on you unconscionably.” And Vickers launched forth into a tirade very different from his platform utterances. He spoke with extreme contempt of the dense stupidity exhibited on all occasions by the working classes.
And temperatures are expected to keep rising.
Synonyms: call for, demand
England expects that every man will do his duty.
I was born and immediately thrown into a society that makes its own rules, standards, and expectations. I am expected to behave. I am expected to deliver. I am expected to live up to the contrived standards of the society.
Synonyms: hope, want, wish
You are expected to get the task done by the end of next week.
“You are pregnant?” he asked with shock in his voice. “Yes, Justin, I am expecting a child,”
Synonyms: await; see also Thesaurus:wait for
Let's in, and there expect their coming.
The knight fixed his eyes on the opening with breathless anxiety, and continuing to kneel in the attitude of devotion which the place and scene required, expected the consequence of these preparations.
Synonym: wait
I will 'expect until my change in death, / And answer at Thy call
Related words
related terms
expectable
expectancy
expectant
expectation noun