ex·pect
(ĭk-spĕkt′)v. ex·pect·ed, ex·pect·ing, ex·pects
v.tr.1. a. To look forward to the probable occurrence or appearance of: expecting a phone call; expects rain on Sunday.
b. To consider likely or certain:
expect to see them soon. See Usage Note at
anticipate.
2. To consider reasonable or due: We expect an apology.
3. To consider obligatory; require: The school expects its pupils to be on time.
4. Informal To presume; suppose.
v.intr. To be pregnant. Used in progressive tenses: My wife is expecting again.
[Latin
exspectāre :
ex-,
ex- +
spectāre,
to look at, frequentative of
specere,
to see; see
spek- in
Indo-European roots.]
ex·pect′a·ble adj.
ex·pect′a·bly adv.
ex·pect′ed·ly adv.
ex·pect′ed·ness n.
Synonyms: expect, anticipate, hope, await
These verbs relate to the idea of looking ahead to something in the future. To expect is to look forward to the likely occurrence or appearance of someone or something: "We should not expect something for nothing—but we all do and call it Hope" (Edgar W. Howe).
Anticipate sometimes refers to taking advance action, as to forestall or prevent the occurrence of something expected or to meet a wish or request before it is articulated: anticipated the storm and locked the shutters. The term can also refer to having a foretaste of something expected: The police are anticipating trouble with rowdy fans after the game. To hope is to look forward with desire and usually with a measure of confidence in the likelihood of gaining what is desired: I hope to see you soon. To await is to wait expectantly and with certainty: She is eagerly awaiting your letter.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
expectedly
(ɪkˈspɛktɪdlɪ) advin the expected manner
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014