Expect
WordNet
verb
(1) Be pregnant with
"She is bearing his child"
"The are expecting another child in January"
"I am carrying his child"
(2) Look forward to the birth of a child
"She is expecting in March"
(3) Consider reasonable or due
"I'm expecting a full explanation as to why these files were destroyed"
(4) Regard something as probable or likely
"The meteorologists are expecting rain for tomorrow"
(5) Look forward to the probable occurrence of
"We were expecting a visit from our relatives"
"She is looking to a promotion"
"He is waiting to be drafted"
(6) Consider obligatory; request and expect
"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"
WiktionaryText
Etymology
Latin , + . Confer spectacle.
Verb
- 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. Shakespeare
- Expecting thy reply. Shakespeare
- The Somersetshire or yellow regiment ... was expected to arrive on the following day. Thomas Babington Macaulay.
- to consider obligatory or required;
- to consider reasonably due;
- You are expected to get the task done by the end of next week.
- To wait for; to await.
- Let's in, and there expect their coming. Shakespeare
Usage notes
- Expect is a mental act and has always 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.
- This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive. See Appendix:English catenative verbs