anticipated

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'anticipated' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe an event or situation that is expected to happen or to describe something that has been planned or expected in the past. Example sentence: She anticipated the arrival of her guests with excitement.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Our vote held up, we had not anticipated the Tory vote collapsing quite so dramatically.

The Guardian

It was hardly the occasion anticipated at Hampden.

The Guardian - Sport

Sturgeon now admits that the SNP had not anticipated the pro-UK's side early intervention on the currency and, in the end, lost the referendum after failing to overcome people's fears on the economy.

The Guardian

Richards, who has been Ofcom chief executive since 2004 and last year was a candidate to be the BBC director general when George Entwistle got the job last year, admitted he had "stuck around [at Ofcom] a few more years than I ever anticipated".

The Guardian

The inquiry had previously heard Sinodinos was brought onto the board because of his Liberal party connections as the company anticipated a switch to a Liberal NSW government in 2011.

The Guardian

The lobbying push underlines the sensitivity surrounding Pope Francis's highly anticipated encyclical on the environment, whose aim will be to frame the climate change issue as a moral imperative.

The Guardian

The statement, which will outline anticipated cuts of around £3bn, is expected on Thursday in the final hours before parliament rises for the Christmas break.

The Guardian

And here's an offer nobody would have anticipated a few years ago: Be a part of history!

The Guardian

Even from that precarious position, as Blair had anticipated, the new first minister made like Teddy Roosevelt, using his official residence, Bute House, as a bully pulpit to build support for the SNP and independence.

The Guardian

"A lot of people had anticipated that after a referendum victory the Labour party would become more confident and seize the agenda, and the opposite happened.

The Guardian

Barts health, the NHS's biggest trust, had the largest deficit with just under £80m, almost twice as much as anticipated.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "anticipated", ensure the context clearly indicates who is doing the anticipating. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "anticipated" in sentences where it's unclear who is doing the anticipating. For example, instead of "The results are anticipated", specify "Researchers anticipated the results" for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "anticipated" is to act as a verb in the past tense or as an adjective describing something that is expected. Ludwig's examples show it used in both active constructions (e.g., "the company anticipated a switch") and passive ones (e.g., "the occasion anticipated at Hampden").

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Formal & Business

21%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "anticipated" is a versatile term used to express that something was expected or foreseen. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage in various contexts, especially in news and media. While generally neutral in tone, it's essential to ensure clarity by specifying who is doing the anticipating. Alternatives like "expected", "predicted", and "foreseen" can be used depending on the nuance you want to convey. By following best practices and avoiding common errors, you can effectively use "anticipated" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expected

Simple synonym for "anticipated", implying something believed to occur.

predicted

Focuses on forecasting or foretelling a future event, similar to "anticipated".

forecast

Similar to "predicted", often used in the context of weather or economic conditions.

foreseen

Emphasizes the ability to see or know something in advance.

foretold

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

looked forward to

Expresses eagerness or excitement about something expected to happen.

expected to happen

A more descriptive phrase indicating an event that is likely to occur.

presumed

Suggests something is taken for granted or assumed to be true beforehand.

projected

Often used in business or scientific contexts to indicate estimated future values.

envisioned

Suggests imagining or visualizing a future scenario.

FAQs

How do you use "anticipated" in a sentence?

You can use "anticipated" to describe something expected or predicted. For instance, "The highly "anticipated" movie was released last week" or "They "anticipated" a large crowd at the event".

What's a good alternative to the word "anticipated"?

Alternatives include "expected", "predicted", or "foreseen". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "the anticipated results"?

Yes, "the anticipated results" is a grammatically correct phrase. It means the results that were expected or predicted.

What's the difference between "anticipated" and "expected"?

While similar, "anticipated" often implies a stronger sense of looking forward to something, while "expected" is more general. You might say "I "anticipated" the vacation" (with excitement), but "The train is "expected" at noon".