anticipate
/ænˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/ IELTSAcademic
verb
- 1.
To expect something before it happens, or to think it will happen soon. In formal English, it can also mean to prepare for something in advance.
- We anticipate heavy rain this evening.
- The team anticipated a difficult meeting.
- Please anticipate delays at the airport.
- 2.
To do something before a possible event, so you are ready for it. This is common in writing, business, and academic English.
- We anticipated the problem and fixed it early.
- She anticipated customer complaints.
- The report anticipates future changes.
Adinary Nuance
Anticipate is more formal than expect, and it often sounds more careful or planned. Writers use it when they mean not just “think something will happen,” but also “prepare for it.” It is closer to foresee or predict than to hope. In business and academic English, anticipate often sounds precise and professional.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- dự đoán
- Spanish
- anticipar
- Chinese
- 预料
- Japanese
- 予想する
- Korean
- 예상하다
Etymology
Anticipate comes from Latin anticipare, meaning "to take before." It entered English in the 15th century and kept both senses: expecting something and acting early.
Common phrases
anticipate problemsanticipate demandanticipate changesanticipate a response
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is anticipate the same as expect?
- Not exactly. Anticipate is often more formal, and it can suggest preparation as well as expectation.
- Can I use anticipate in speaking?
- Yes, but it sounds a little formal. In everyday speech, people often say expect.
- Is anticipate common in IELTS and academic writing?
- Yes. It is a useful formal verb for reports, essays, and business English.
- How do I use anticipate with a noun?
- You can say, for example, “anticipate delays,” “anticipate growth,” or “anticipate problems.”