expect
gb/ɪkspˈɛkt/ us/ɪkspˈɛkt/
A2
English
~ 400
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A2
state
1
Believe something will happen
To think that something will happen.
Usage pattern:
to expect [something] to [verb]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'expect' with 'hope'; 'hope' expresses desire, while 'expect' expresses belief about likelihood.
Synonyms
anticipate (Slightly more formal; often implies preparing for something.)
Antonyms
doubt (Means to feel uncertain or believe something is unlikely.)
Collocations
expect results
|expect trouble
|expect a call
|expect rain
Themes
daily life
|thinking
|predictions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We expect the train to arrive on time.
- I expect she'll call me later today.
- They expect prices to rise next year.
- He expects to finish the project by Friday.
Learner examples
- I expect it will rain tomorrow.
- She expects to see her friend.
- We expect the bus at 8 o'clock.
- They expect to win the game.
Verb
B1
action
2
Require as duty or standard
To say or think that someone must do something.
Usage pattern:
to expect [someone] to [verb]
Common mistake:
Learners may forget to use 'to' before the verb after 'expect someone' (e.g., 'expect him do' instead of 'expect him to do').
Synonyms
demand (Stronger and more forceful than 'expect'.)
Antonyms
allow (Means to permit without requiring something.)
Collocations
expect punctuality
|expect good behavior
|expect payment
Themes
rules
|work
|relationships
|law
Examples
- The teacher expects all students to complete their homework.
- We expect employees to arrive on time.
- Parents expect their children to be polite.
Learner examples
- My boss expects me to work hard.
- The coach expects us to practice every day.
- They expect students to wear uniforms.
Verb
A2
state
3
Be pregnant and awaiting childbirth
To be going to have a baby soon.
Usage pattern:
to be expecting [a baby/child]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the general meaning of 'expect'; context about pregnancy is needed.
Synonyms
be pregnant (More direct; 'expecting' is softer and more common in conversation.)
Collocations
expect a baby
|expect twins
Themes
family
|health
|body
Examples
- She's expecting a baby in June.
- They just announced they're expecting their first child.
- My sister is expecting twins.
Learner examples
- She is expecting a baby.
- My friend is expecting her first child.
- They are expecting twins.
Grammar
Dictionary form
expect
IPA
GB/ɪkspˈɛkt/
US/ɪkspˈɛkt/
Syllables & stress
ex - pect (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pect)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: expect
- 3rd Person Singular: expects
- Present Participle: expecting
- Past: expected
Word family
Forms
expects
verb
expecting
verb
expected
verb
Core family
expectation
noun B1
Related words
expectant
adjective
expectantly
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
unexpected
adjective B1
unexpectedly
adverb B1
Advanced or less common
expectancy
noun B2
Expressions
as expected
1/ˈæz ɪkspˈɛktɪd/
fixed phrase
Happened as predicted
Happened like people thought it would.
Examples
- As expected, the meeting ran over time.
- The test was, as expected, quite difficult.
expect the worst
1/ɪkspˈɛkt ðə wˈɚst/
fixed phrase
Prepare for bad outcome
To think that the most bad thing will happen.
Examples
- When traveling in winter, we always expect the worst and pack extra supplies.
- She tends to expect the worst in any situation.
what do you expect?
1/wˈʌt dˈu jˈu ɪkspˈɛkt ‖/
fixed phrase
informal
Rhetorical: outcome was inevitable
Used to say that something is not surprising.
Examples
- He was late again—what do you expect?
- The food was cold, but what do you expect at that price?