expectations

USAGE SUMMARY

'expectations' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a belief that something is going to happen or be the case, especially one based on experience or knowledge. For example, "I had high expectations for this project, but unfortunately it didn't work out as planned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sport

Opinion

Culture

Education

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Following the pre-close update where management lowered expectations, we are not expecting surprises in the headline numbers; instead our focus will be on the detail in terms of capital and asset quality.

The Guardian - Business

Lord Reith, the BBC's founder, kept expectations low, warning: "Don't expect too much in the early days... the programmes will neither be very interesting nor very good".

The Guardian

Expectations are high.

The New York Times - Sports

In the same way, silence about male victims reinforces unhealthy expectations about men and their supposed invulnerability.

The New York Times

His reputation for intelligence is simply the soft bigotry of Washington's low expectations for politicians.

The Guardian

"Since its very first exhibition in 2007, Harma Gallery has known great recognition, overcome visitors' expectations and gained popularity and customer loyalty very rapidly.

The Guardian

Ian Ruggier, who recently retired after 26 years in the Maltese army, said being part of MOAS rescues went beyond his expectations.

The Guardian

The support I have gained takes many forms: regular meetings, great communication, senior staff being present, a lack of assumptions about what I will do, and workload expectations that are in line with my career position.

The Guardian

Yet it had determined much of the election coverage, eclipsing policy analysis, and had set the expectations and planning of the overnight programmes.

The Guardian

There is interesting follow-up work to be done here on teachers', parents' and peers' responses to poorer children achieving grades above expectations, and indeed how this plays out across gender, ethnicity and for pupils with additional needs.

The Guardian

Opening her speech at the Palace of Westminster in English, Merkel said: "I have been told many times during the last few days that there are very special expectations of my speech here today.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "expectations" when referring to a belief that something will happen, otherwise use "anticipation" if you need to discuss the feeling of looking forward to something.

Common error

Avoid using "expectations" when you mean "hopes". "Expectations" are based on a reasonable assessment of what is likely to happen, while "hopes" are desires or wishes that may not be realistic.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "expectations" is as a plural noun. It typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, denoting beliefs or anticipations about future events or outcomes. As Ludwig AI confirms, "expectations" refers to a belief that something is going to happen or be the case, especially based on experience or knowledge.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

25%

Opinion

10%

Less common in

Sport

8%

Culture

7%

Education

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "expectations" functions as a plural noun used to express beliefs about what is likely to happen. As noted by Ludwig AI, it refers to beliefs about future events based on experience or knowledge. The term is grammatically correct and very common, appearing most frequently in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. When using "expectations", clarify whose beliefs you're referencing and avoid confusing it with "hopes". Alternatives include "anticipated outcomes" and "projected results". This guide provides practical insights to help you use "expectations" effectively in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

anticipated outcomes

Focuses on the results that were foreseen or predicted.

future prospects

Highlights what the future may hold, focusing on possibilities.

foreseeable events

Emphasizes events that can be predicted with a reasonable degree of certainty.

projected results

Emphasizes the forecasted or estimated results based on current data.

presumed outcomes

Highlights the assumptions made about likely results or consequences.

forecasted performance

Highlights the anticipated level of achievement or success.

predicted scenarios

Focuses on likely possibilities based on current trends or conditions.

anticipated developments

Refers to events or changes that are expected to occur.

anticipated challenges

Highlights potential problems or difficulties that are foreseen.

hopes and dreams

Uses more emotional and aspirational terms to convey expectations.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "expectations" in a sentence?

Use "expectations" to describe beliefs about what is likely to happen in the future. For example, "The company's earnings exceeded analysts' expectations" or "Managing client expectations is crucial for success".

What are some synonyms for "expectations"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "anticipations", "predictions", "prospects", or "assumptions".

How do "expectations" differ from "hopes"?

"Expectations" are based on what is reasonably likely to occur, while "hopes" are desires or wishes that may not be based on reality. Use "expectations" when you have a rational basis for your belief and "hopes" when you are expressing a wishful outcome.

Is it better to exceed or meet "expectations"?

Exceeding "expectations" is generally viewed more favorably as it demonstrates performance beyond what was anticipated, leading to greater satisfaction and positive outcomes. However, meeting "expectations" is still considered satisfactory.