expect Meaning, Definition & Usage

verb regard something as probable or likely
anticipate.
- The meteorologists are expecting rain for tomorrow
verb consider obligatory; request and expect
ask; require.
- We require our secretary to be on time
- Aren't we asking too much of these children?
- I expect my students to arrive in time for their lessons
verb look forward to the probable occurrence of
await; wait; look.
- We were expecting a visit from our relatives
- She is looking to a promotion
- he is waiting to be drafted
verb consider reasonable or due
- I'm expecting a full explanation as to why these files were destroyed
verb look forward to the birth of a child
- She is expecting in March
verb be pregnant with
carry; gestate; have a bun in the oven; bear.
- She is bearing his child
- The are expecting another child in January
- I am carrying his child

L. expectatum, to look out for, await, expect; ex + out spectare to look at. See Spectacle.

imperfect & past participle Expected; present participle & verbal noun Expecting

To wait for; to await. Obs.
Let's in, and there expect their coming. Shak.
To look for (mentally); to look forward to, as to something that is believed to be about to happen or come; to have a previous apprehension of, whether of good or evil; to look for with some confidence; to anticipate; -- often followed by an infinitive, sometimes by a clause (with, or without, that); as I expect to receive wages; I expect that the troops will be defeated. "Good: I will expect you." Shak. "Expecting thy reply." Shak.
The Somersetshire or yellow regiment . . . was expected to arrive on the following day. Macaulay.
Syn. -- To anticipate; look for; await; hope. -- To Expect, Think, Believe, Await. Expect is a mental act and has aways a reference to the future, to some coming event; as a person expects to die, or he expects to survive. Think and believe have reference to the past and present, as well as to the future; as I think the mail has arrived; I believe he came home yesterday, that he is he is at home now. There is a not uncommon use of expect, which is a confusion of the two; as, I expect the mail has arrived; I expect he is at home. This misuse should be avoided. Await is a physical or moral act. We await that which, when it comes, will affect us personally. We expect what may, or may not, interest us personally. See Anticipate.