expect to become

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "expect to become" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing anticipation or belief about a future state or role that one aims to achieve. Example: "I expect to become a successful entrepreneur after completing my business degree."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I didn't expect to become a legend," he says.

The Guardian

But he didn't expect to become his own case study.

The Guardian

"I didn't expect to become this involved," I say.

The Guardian

Expect to become landlords, she told the class.

The New York Times

"I didn't expect to become emotional," he said.

The New York Times - Food

A.M.D. officials said that they do not expect to become a big player in servers, however.

The New York Times

When the exposé was published, she didn't expect to become a poster child.

The New Yorker

"Those who are wounded," he said, "can certainly expect to become martyrs".

The New York Times

People who join the register want and expect to become organ donors.

Independent

Several probably expect to become involved in, and paid by, any campaign he runs.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Dilshan never expected to become captain.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "expect to become" to express a reasonable anticipation based on current trends or actions. It's suitable when there's a solid basis for your belief.

Common error

Avoid using "expect to become" when the outcome is highly uncertain or speculative. Opt for alternatives like "hope to become" or "may become" to convey a more realistic level of confidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expect to become" functions as a verb phrase indicating anticipation or a strong likelihood of transitioning into a future state or role. As Ludwig AI shows, this is commonly used in various contexts to express beliefs about future outcomes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "expect to become" is a versatile and commonly used verb phrase to express anticipation or likelihood of transitioning into a future state or role. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use across diverse contexts, especially in news, academic, and scientific domains. While generally neutral in tone, it's important to ensure the expectation is well-founded and not overly speculative. Alternatives like "anticipate becoming" or "hope to become" can offer nuanced variations depending on the context and desired level of certainty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

anticipate becoming

Focuses more on foreseeing or predicting a future state.

aspire to be

Expresses a strong desire or ambition for a future role.

foresee oneself as

Emphasizes the personal vision of a future identity.

envisage becoming

Implies a mental picture or visualization of a future state.

look forward to being

Highlights the positive anticipation of a future role or state.

predict one will be

Conveys a strong belief or forecast about a future state.

plan to be

Suggests a deliberate intention and strategy for achieving a future state.

hope to grow into

Suggests a gradual and organic development into a future state.

aim to transform into

Emphasizes the process of change and the desired outcome.

intend to evolve into

Highlights a gradual process of development towards a future state.

FAQs

What's a good way to use "expect to become" in a sentence?

You can use "expect to become" when discussing anticipated future roles or states, such as, "Given her dedication, she can "expect to become" a team leader soon".

What can I say instead of "expect to become"?

You can use alternatives like "anticipate becoming", "foresee oneself as", or "look forward to being" depending on the context.

How does "expect to become" differ from "hope to become"?

"Expect to become" implies a higher degree of certainty or reasonable anticipation based on evidence, while "hope to become" expresses a wish or desire without a strong basis for expecting it.

Which is more formal, "expect to become" or "plan to be"?

"Expect to become" is generally considered more neutral, while "plan to be" implies a deliberate course of action and is therefore a bit more direct. Both are suitable for formal contexts.