Expectantly waiting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Expectantly waiting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a state of anticipation or eagerness while waiting for something to happen. Example: "She sat in the waiting room, expectantly waiting for the doctor to call her name."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

The local cats sit expectantly, waiting for scraps and attention.

The Guardian

They looked to him expectantly, waiting for advice on what obscure, limited-edition vinyl gem they should try next.

The Washington Post

After the full length trailer leaked out of Comic Con a number of weeks ago and Reynolds teased that it would hit the internet very soon, fans have been expectantly waiting.

Independent

"Mainly, what we do is go into the studio and then do this — just hang out," said Yung Lean, looking back at Yung Gud expectantly, waiting for him to continue.

The New Yorker

And while some remember and miss them in their prime, others rub their hands impatiently and expectantly, waiting for them to go … Oh, hang on, they're poor now, how does that work with the vultures?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The rooms reminds me of those dreams where you suddenly find yourself on stage in a play, with all the actors looking at you expectantly, waiting for you to speak lines you haven't learned.

The Guardian - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

And as we expectantly wait for deliverance, we also celebrate God remaining present with us through every facet of the human experience.

HuffPost

His bus pulled into the station in silence, with the passengers waiting expectantly but in vain.

The New Yorker

Our smartphones are always with us, waiting expectantly in our pockets or purses.

The New Yorker

Eleanor is waiting expectantly for him, and thinking how pretty she is.

The New Yorker

Four years ago Tom Daley stood on the 10m board here with the country waiting expectantly.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "expectantly waiting" to convey a sense of hopeful anticipation, particularly when the outcome is uncertain but desired. For example, "The team was "expectantly waiting" for the final results of the competition."

Common error

Avoid using "expectantly waiting" in every context where anticipation is involved. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Instead, vary your language with synonyms such as "eagerly awaiting" or "anxiously awaiting" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expectantly waiting" functions as an adverbial modifier combined with a present participle phrase. "Expectantly" modifies the verb "waiting", describing the manner in which the action of waiting is performed. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "expectantly waiting" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English used to describe a state of hopeful anticipation. While not exceedingly common, it appears in various contexts, predominantly in news and media. According to Ludwig AI, its aiResponseStatus confirms this assessment. Related phrases include "eagerly anticipating" and "anxiously awaiting", which offer similar but slightly nuanced meanings. When employing this phrase, writers should aim to convey a sense of hopeful anticipation, using it judiciously to avoid redundancy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Eagerly anticipating

Replaces "expectantly" with "eagerly" and uses "anticipating" instead of "waiting", focusing on the positive anticipation.

Awaiting eagerly

Swaps the order and uses 'eagerly' instead of 'expectantly'.

Waiting with anticipation

More literal and direct synonym, maintains a sense of formality.

Anticipating with excitement

Highlights the excitement associated with the anticipation.

Waiting keenly

Uses "keenly" to indicate strong interest and eagerness.

Anxiously awaiting

Emphasizes a degree of anxiety in the anticipation, which may or may not be present in the original phrase.

Hopefully waiting

Emphasizes the hopefulness of the wait.

Watching with anticipation

Suggests a more active form of waiting, implying observation.

Looking forward to

A more common and general phrase for expressing positive anticipation.

Waiting with bated breath

Implies a high level of excitement or anxiety while waiting.

FAQs

How can I use "expectantly waiting" in a sentence?

You can use "expectantly waiting" to describe someone eagerly anticipating a particular event or outcome. For example, "The children were "expectantly waiting" for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve."

What are some alternatives to "expectantly waiting"?

You can use alternatives like "eagerly anticipating", "anxiously awaiting", or "looking forward to" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "expectantly waiting"?

While "expectantly" already implies waiting, the phrase "expectantly waiting" can be used for emphasis to highlight the eagerness and anticipation involved. However, be mindful of overuse.

What is the difference between "expectantly waiting" and "patiently waiting"?

"Expectantly waiting" suggests a hopeful and eager anticipation, while "patiently waiting" implies a calm and composed endurance of a wait. The key difference lies in the emotional tone.