eager anticipation

USAGE SUMMARY

'eager anticipation' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to express enthusiasm for a future event or situation. Example: I am filled with eager anticipation for the start of the new school year.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Arts

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

His Christmas music quiz aroused eager anticipation and much research.

The Guardian

And it ends with a cliffhanger, creating eager anticipation for Ms. Wilson's concluding volume.

The New York Times - Books

The devoutly Baptist Hartzlers rear their children in eager anticipation of Jesus' second coming.

The New York Times - Books

When Moyer was at the plate, the fans stood and cheered in eager anticipation.

The New York Times - Sports

We wait in eager anticipation of what will be next: Tesco homes?

Independent

But, as the subject switched to Trump, he answered with what sounded like eager anticipation.

The New Yorker

By turning a normally spontaneous gesture of eager anticipation ("Is everything in place?

The New York Times - Arts

It seems not so much eager anticipation as a feverish delight that greets these songs tonight.

The Guardian - Music

So we waited with eager anticipation to see who would open the batting for England.

The Guardian - Sport

Although Mendes had been an intramural ski champion at Dartmouth, his running career began more from admonition than eager anticipation.

The New York Times - Sports

This week I have watched children cry; I have seen eager anticipation fade into confusion then embarrassment and finally shame.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "eager anticipation" to convey a positive and enthusiastic expectation, particularly when the expected event is highly desired or enjoyable.

Common error

While "eager anticipation" is widely accepted, consider using a more subdued term like "keen interest" in highly formal or academic writing to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "eager anticipation" is to act as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. Examples show it describing a state of excited expectation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

16%

Arts

10%

Less common in

Sport

9%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "eager anticipation" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase to express a positive expectation for something. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's validity. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, but also appears frequently in science and arts-related content. While generally neutral in register, consider more formal alternatives for academic writing. The phrase conveys enthusiasm and pleasure, making it suitable for describing events or experiences that are highly desired. Several alternatives exist, such as "keen anticipation" and "excited anticipation", allowing for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eager expectation

This option is a more literal synonym by replacing anticipation with expectation

keen anticipation

This alternative shares a strong similarity, emphasizing the intensity of the expectation.

excited anticipation

This alternative is nearly identical in meaning, highlighting the emotional excitement associated with the expectation.

excited expectation

Synonym by replacing eager with excited. Meaning does not drastically change

impatient anticipation

This alternative focuses on the difficulty of waiting and the desire for the expected event to arrive sooner.

anxious anticipation

This alternative introduces an element of worry or concern alongside the expectation.

fervent anticipation

This alternative suggests a more passionate and intense level of expectation.

expectant enthusiasm

This alternative shifts the focus slightly to the enthusiastic feeling accompanying the expectation.

anticipatory zeal

This alternative is a synonym by replacing anticipation with zeal

looking forward to

The focus here is on the act of anticipating something pleasant, often used in personal communication.

FAQs

How can I use "eager anticipation" in a sentence?

"Eager anticipation" can be used to describe the feeling of looking forward to something with excitement. For example, "The children waited with "eager anticipation" for Christmas morning."

What are some alternatives to "eager anticipation"?

You can use alternatives like "keen anticipation", "excited anticipation", or "impatient anticipation" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "eager anticipation"?

Yes, "eager anticipation" is a perfectly acceptable and commonly used phrase in English to express excitement about something that is going to happen.

What's the difference between "eager anticipation" and "anxious anticipation"?

"Eager anticipation" implies excitement and positive expectation, while "anxious anticipation" suggests a feeling of worry or unease about what might happen.