was anticipated by

USAGE SUMMARY

"was anticipated by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to talk about something that was expected to happen or was expected to exist before it actually did. For example, "The success of the new product was anticipated by the company's shareholders."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Much of this was anticipated by historians and cultural commentators in the 1980s and 90s.

The Guardian

She thinks this levelling was anticipated by people such as Jarman.

The Guardian - Arts

None of this was anticipated by Shaw when he decided to oppose the Games.

The New York Times - Sports

The move on Tuesday was anticipated by 11 of Canada's 12 primary securities dealers in a survey last Thursday.

The New York Times

Every major Atonement theory of Christian theological history discussed below was anticipated by one or another of these metaphors.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Johnson's achievement, as the first American to win downhill gold, was anticipated by Redford's character in Downhill Racer.

Independent

"The trouble was anticipated by both police and the community given the sentencing of three men for dissident crimes earlier," she said.

The Guardian

Such systematic nostalgia was anticipated by the hugely successful "Mamma Mia!," which opened last year under the astutely naive-seeming direction of Phyllida Lloyd.

The New York Times

His opus was anticipated by James McBride's mocking, self-examining experimental 1968 epic film "David Holtzman's Diary," a faux documentary about a young man's everyday life.

The New York Times

"The economy is improving faster than was anticipated by the city," said Ken Bleiwas, deputy state comptroller for New York City.

The New York Times

But though she was a campaign novice, her ability to raise money, especially among liberal national networks, was anticipated by many.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was anticipated by" when indicating that an event, result, or idea had been expected or predicted by someone or something. This emphasizes the foresight or prior understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "was anticipated by" with a plural subject. For example, instead of "The results was anticipated by the team", use "The results were anticipated by the team".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was anticipated by" functions as a passive construction, indicating that something was foreseen or expected by a particular agent. This construction is commonly used to shift the focus from the actor to the action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

32%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was anticipated by" is a grammatically sound and commonly used passive construction that indicates something was foreseen or expected. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It is prevalent in news, scientific, and encyclopedia sources, signaling a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure subject-verb agreement and consider alternatives like "was predicted by" or "was expected by" to fine-tune your meaning. Remember, "anticipated" suggests a proactive form of expectation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was predicted by

Replaces 'anticipated' with 'predicted', focusing on foretelling the future.

was expected by

Substitutes 'anticipated' with 'expected', emphasizing a belief that something would occur.

had been expected by

Adds 'had been' to 'expected by', putting more emphasis on past expectation.

was foreseen by

Uses 'foreseen' instead of 'anticipated', highlighting the act of seeing something in advance.

was envisioned by

Uses 'envisioned' instead of 'anticipated', highlighting the act of imagining something in advance.

was foreshadowed by

Replaces 'anticipated' with 'foreshadowed', suggesting hints or indications of something to come.

was preempted by

Uses 'preempted' instead of 'anticipated', focusing on acting in advance to prevent something.

was prepared for by

Replaces 'anticipated' with 'prepared for', highlighting readiness for a future event.

was allowed for by

Substitutes 'anticipated' with 'allowed for', focusing on considering something in advance for planning.

was reckoned with by

Replaces 'anticipated' with 'reckoned with', emphasizing the consideration of something as a factor.

FAQs

How can I use "was anticipated by" in a sentence?

Use "was anticipated by" to indicate that something was expected or predicted by someone or something else. For example, "The economic downturn "was anticipated by" several leading economists."

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

"Was anticipated by" and "was expected by" are similar, but "was anticipated by" suggests a more proactive form of expectation, implying foresight or prediction. While "expected" may simply mean something was likely to occur, "anticipated" often means it was foreseen and perhaps prepared for.

What are some alternatives to "was anticipated by"?

You can use alternatives like "was predicted by", "was foreseen by", or "was expected by" depending on the specific context.

Is "was anticipated by" formal or informal language?

"Was anticipated by" is suitable for both formal and neutral contexts, commonly appearing in news, academic writing, and professional reports. Its register aligns well with objective reporting and analytical discussion.