heighten expectation

USAGE SUMMARY

"heighten expectation" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to increase or intensify anticipation or hope for something. Example: The marketing team used strategic advertising campaigns to heighten expectation for the launch of their new product.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Those developers can download the iOS 6 beta and latest build of Mac OS X now; the former is expected to see a consumer release in the autumn - which will heighten expectation of a new iteration of the iPhone to accompany it.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The presence of British officers in Djibouti will heighten expectations that the ground is being prepared for redeployment of UK drones elsewhere overseas.

The Guardian

The May C.P.I. helped heighten expectations that higher interest rates, which tend to hold down prices, may be in the offing.

The New York Times

A Republican Congress would heighten expectations among Republicans that Mr. Bush could deliver much of their agenda; expectations that he may be unable to fulfill -- or not want to.

The New York Times

But the high of Sunday's win over Miami, which followed the low of Friday's loss to Cleveland, will only heighten expectations that D'Antoni already regards as unreachable in this season's limited lifespan.

The New York Times - Sports

This could further heighten expectations of change.Yet the Castro government may also feel that elections can be a useful outlet so long as the ruling party continues to win.

The Economist

But the data is unlikely to heighten expectations of an early interest rate increase by the Bank of Japan because consumer price growth remains subdued, with companies still reluctant to fully pass on rising raw material costs to consumers.

The New York Times

So news of cases like Mr. Hendrickson's, and at least one other person who had planned her funeral only to be discharged from a hospice, heighten expectations that similar new drugs will soon follow.

The New York Times - Science

Some Bush supporters even said they welcomed the Gore campaign's drive to appear competitive here, saying it would only heighten expectations for the vice president and spur Republicans here to work harder for Mr. Bush.

The New York Times

To heighten expectations she is leading after Thursday's first two runs in Sochi, too.

BBC

Because they do not fit neatly into traditional humanitarian coordination mechanisms, yet tend to demand attention and heighten expectations, novel international actors at the top level of pandemic informatics are a powerful force for asserting knowledge politics in informatics of response.

Journal of International Humanitarian Action

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "heighten expectation" when you want to suggest a natural or deliberate increase in the anticipation or hope surrounding an event, product, or situation. Ensure the context supports the idea of a gradual or progressive increase.

Common error

Avoid using "heighten expectation" when you mean to describe fulfilling or meeting expectations. The phrase focuses on the increase of anticipation, not the satisfaction of it. Consider using phrases like "meet expectations" or "live up to expectations" in those scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "heighten expectation" primarily functions as a verb phrase, where "heighten" acts as a transitive verb taking "expectation" as its object. As Ludwig AI underlines, it indicates the act of increasing or intensifying anticipation. Examples show its common association with events or products that generate public anticipation.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "heighten expectation" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe the act of increasing or intensifying anticipation for something. Though not overly frequent, it appears in various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science, as noted by Ludwig. When using this phrase, ensure the context aligns with generating excitement rather than satisfying existing expectations. Consider alternatives like "increase anticipation" or "raise hopes" to achieve the desired nuance. The phrase maintains a generally neutral register, making it suitable for professional and informative writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increase anticipation

This alternative focuses on the feeling of anticipation itself, rather than the general concept of expectation.

raise hopes

This alternative uses a more direct and emotionally charged term, "hopes", instead of the more neutral "expectation".

fuel anticipation

This alternative emphasizes the process of actively promoting anticipation.

boost expectations

Similar to "heighten", but uses "boost" which suggests a more active and forceful increase.

magnify anticipation

This alternative evokes a sense of greatly increasing anticipation in a visible way.

intensify anticipation

This alternative emphasizes the strengthening of anticipation.

amplify expectations

This alternative uses a term typically associated with sound or signal processing, suggesting a broadening effect.

exacerbate anticipation

This alternative suggests making existing anticipation worse.

build anticipation

This alternative conveys the sense of gradual growth.

promote anticipation

This alternative emphasizes the action of encouraging anticipation.

FAQs

How can I use "heighten expectation" in a sentence?

You can use "heighten expectation" to describe actions or events that increase anticipation or hope. For instance, "The marketing campaign aimed to heighten expectation for the new product launch."

What are some alternatives to "heighten expectation"?

You can use alternatives like "increase anticipation", "raise hopes", or "fuel anticipation" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "heighten expectations" instead of "heighten expectation"?

Yes, "heighten expectations" is also correct and commonly used, especially when referring to general anticipation across multiple individuals or regarding various aspects of something. The singular "expectation" is appropriate when the context is more specific.

What is the difference between "heighten expectation" and "managing expectation"?

"Heighten expectation" refers to increasing anticipation or hope, while "managing expectation" refers to controlling or influencing what people anticipate in order to avoid disappointment. They have opposite meanings.