Larger than anticipated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Larger than anticipated" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing something that exceeds expectations or predictions, often in contexts like business, project outcomes, or survey results. Example: "The response to our marketing campaign was larger than anticipated, leading to increased sales and customer engagement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

What they found, King said, was that the effect was larger than anticipated.

Harvard University

As Donaldson, the original architect of MMC, admits in his report: "The number of doctors... was larger than anticipated".

The Guardian

If, as the years go by, the surplus turns out to be larger than anticipated, the politicians will no doubt seek further tax cuts.

The New York Times

Four days later, Mr. Clinton's advisers told him of new projections showing that the deficit was going to be considerably larger than anticipated.

The New York Times

The number was far larger than anticipated and means that if the fund were to be divided equally, each claimant would get no more than $1,000.

The New York Times

The Congressional Budget Office said today that tax receipts this fiscal year through April were $75 billion below its projections, ensuring that the federal budget deficit would be far larger than anticipated.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

The figures for the fiscal fourth quarter ended Oct. 31 showed that Hewlett-Packard had achieved larger-than-anticipated cost savings.

The New York Times

"All the unknowns keep me up at night – the cows ready to calve, more equipment problems, our retail outlets presenting larger-than-anticipated challenges," Mantzaris says.

The Guardian

They are hoping to pay for them not from budget cuts, but from either the tobacco settlement or larger-than-anticipated budget surpluses.

The New York Times

In Whitman College, nine of the 12 lounges have been converted into singles and doubles to help accommodate the larger-than-anticipated class, and Whitman's seminar and game rooms were converted into triples.

Princeton University

When the Vermont senator first visited Portland, while still considered a fringe candidate, huge crowds of supporters forced his campaign to book a basketball stadium to accommodate the larger-than-anticipated crowd.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "larger than anticipated", ensure that the context clearly establishes what the initial anticipation or prediction was. This provides a clear point of reference for the comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "larger than anticipated" without specifying what was initially expected. Failing to provide this context can make the statement vague and less impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "larger than anticipated" functions as an adjective phrase, typically modifying a noun. It describes something whose size, quantity, or impact exceeded initial expectations. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's commonly used to express surprise at something surpassing a predicted value.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

42%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "larger than anticipated" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something exceeded expectations. As Ludwig AI underlines, its appropriate across various fields, predominantly in News & Media and Science. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly specifies the initial expectation. Alternatives like ""greater than expected"" and ""exceeding expectations"" can offer variety. Being mindful of context ensures clear and impactful communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Greater than expected

Focuses on the difference between the actual outcome and what was initially predicted.

Exceeding expectations

Highlights the positive aspect of surpassing anticipated results.

More than projected

Emphasizes a comparison against a specific projection or forecast.

Beyond forecasts

Implies that the actual outcome has gone significantly past initial predictions.

Surpassing predictions

Similar to exceeding expectations, but with a stronger emphasis on predictive accuracy.

Unforeseen magnitude

Emphasizes the unexpected scale or impact of something.

Unexpectedly large

Directly states that the size or quantity was not anticipated.

More significant than forecasted

Highlights the higher degree of importance that was not expected in advance.

Of unforeseen proportions

Focuses on the scale or extent being previously unknown or unanticipated.

Unpredicted scale

Emphasizes that the degree of something was not guessed, anticipated, or worked out beforehand.

FAQs

How can I use "larger than anticipated" in a sentence?

You can use "larger than anticipated" to describe something that exceeded expectations or predictions. For example, "The response to our marketing campaign was "larger than anticipated", leading to increased sales."

What are some alternatives to saying "larger than anticipated"?

Alternatives include "greater than expected", "exceeding expectations", or "more than projected" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "more large than anticipated"?

No, the correct phrasing is ""larger than anticipated"". "Larger" is the comparative form of "large", so "more large" is redundant.

What's the difference between "larger than anticipated" and "unexpectedly large"?

"Larger than anticipated" implies a comparison to a specific expectation or forecast, while "unexpectedly large" simply means the size was surprising without reference to a prior expectation.