anticipate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "anticipate" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to express that you are expecting something to happen in the future. For example: "I anticipate having a great time on vacation this summer".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Katherine Bavage is 28-year-old Lib Dem member Nick Clegg's departing message to Lib Dem conference was easy to anticipate: coalition may have been tough for the party but it remains right for the country.

The Guardian - Opinion

Others anticipate a period of lying low before he strikes again.

The Guardian

"We anticipate Glaxo will continue to build out its emerging-market infrastructure and bolster its consumer-health business as with recent deals to date".

The Guardian - Business

"We anticipate that more than 400 people – close to 10% of our ongoing workforce – face potential redundancy as we adjust our activities over coming months," Scott said.

The Guardian

Welfare teams at Cambridge alone anticipate 50 to 60 suicide attempts per year.

The Guardian

The education secretary told MPs the chemistry A-level would be accredited within weeks; she was "confident" teaching materials such as text books would be ready on time, and apart from maths did not anticipate any further delays.

The Guardian

However, people in the yes campaign anticipate a closer result, in part because support for same-sex marriage is significantly higher among younger people than older people, who are more likely to be registered to vote.

The Guardian

I anticipate Shah being brilliant on violence against women, West being great on the fact that low wages, while not a "female" problem, nevertheless are particularly hard to shift in female-dominated workforces, and Huq being a very significant voice in terms of the effect it has on women when racist and "othering" discourses become normal in debates about migration and asylum.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The system will be able to use Apple Maps to anticipate destinations based on recent trips and information sifted from contacts, emails and text messages in a similar manner to Google's Now digital assistant.

The Guardian - Tech

We anticipate that the internal major incident will not be called off for another week or so".

The Guardian

I anticipate the announcement of new dinosaurs with the same fervour as Sherlock devotees awaiting the start of the next series.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "anticipate" with a concrete action plan to highlight proactive preparation, demonstrating foresight and readiness for expected outcomes.

Common error

Avoid using "anticipate" when there's little to no evidence supporting the expectation. Overusing it can weaken your argument and suggest unfounded assumptions.

Linguistic Context

Anticipate functions primarily as a verb, indicating the act of expecting or predicting something before it happens. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. Examples show it used to express expectations in various contexts, from business to personal experiences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

27%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "anticipate" is a versatile verb used to express expecting or predicting a future event, often with a sense of preparedness. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and appropriateness for formal and informal contexts, though it appears more frequently in News & Media and Formal & Business settings. When writing, consider the level of certainty and preparation you wish to convey; alternatives such as "expect" or "foresee" might be more suitable depending on the specific nuance. Remember not to overuse the word in situations where there is little factual backup.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expect

Denotes a belief that something will happen, often with a degree of certainty.

foresee

Emphasizes perceiving or knowing something in advance based on insight or understanding.

predict

Suggests making a specific statement about what will happen in the future, often based on evidence or analysis.

foretell

Implies predicting the future, often through supernatural or prophetic means.

look forward to

Expresses a sense of pleasure or excitement about something that will happen in the future.

prepare for

Focuses on taking actions to get ready for something that is likely to happen.

await

Signifies waiting for something with a sense of expectation.

envisage

Involves forming a mental image or concept of something in the future.

project

Indicates estimating or forecasting something based on current trends or data.

count on

Relies on something happening or someone doing something.

FAQs

How can I use "anticipate" in a sentence?

"Anticipate" can be used to express expecting something to happen. For example, "We "anticipate increased demand" during the holiday season."

What are some alternatives to the word "anticipate"?

Depending on the context, you could use "expect", "foresee", or "predict" as alternatives to "anticipate".

Is it correct to use "anticipate" when referring to past events?

No, "anticipate" generally refers to future events. For past events, use words like "expected" or "predicted".

What's the difference between "anticipate" and "expect"?

"Anticipate" often implies a degree of preparation for what is expected, while "expect" simply means believing something will happen.