Anticipate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /an-ˈti-sə-ˌpāt/ an·tic·i·pate

Meaning & Definition of Anticipate

Anticipate (verb)

  1. to give advance thought, discussion, or treatment to
  2. to meet (an obligation) before a due date
  3. to foresee and deal with in advance, forestall

Anticipate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to believe in the future occurrence of (something)

    "I anticipate that we'll be seeing you for New Year's"

    similar: await, expect, hope (for), watch (for), look for, look forward to
    related: bank on, count (on or upon), depend (on or upon), rely (on or upon), wait (for), envisage, envision, foresee, foretell, predict, prophesy, assume, presume, presuppose, contemplate, eye, view
    near: doubt, question

  2. to realize or know about beforehand

    "I anticipated this unhelpful response"

    similar: divine, forefeel, foreknow, foresee, prevision
    related: augur, forecast, foretell, predict, presage, prognosticate, prophesy, envisage, envision, foreshadow, prefigure, visualize, alert, caution, foretoken, forewarn, preview, descry, discern, perceive, apprehend, dread, fear

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Anticipate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Anticipate:

await, expect, hope (for), watch (for), divine, forefeel, foreknow, foresee, prevision, look for, look forward to

Related Words for Anticipate

bank on, count (on or upon), depend (on or upon), rely (on or upon), wait (for), envisage, envision, foretell, predict, prophesy, assume, presume, presuppose, contemplate, eye, view, augur, forecast, presage, prognosticate, foreshadow, prefigure, visualize, alert, caution, foretoken, forewarn, preview, descry, discern

Near Antonyms of Anticipate

doubt, question

Word Forms of Anticipate

Inflections: anticipated, anticipating

Derived words: anticipatable (adjective), anticipator (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Anticipate

Latin anticipatus, past participle of anticipare, from ante- + -cipare (from capere to take) heave:1

First known use: 1532t

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Anticipate

Frequently Asked Questions about Anticipate

What does "Anticipate" mean?

"Anticipate" means to give advance thought, discussion, or treatment to. As a verb, it is defined as: to give advance thought, discussion, or treatment to. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Anticipate"?

Other words for "Anticipate" include await, expect, hope (for), watch (for), divine, forefeel, foreknow and foresee. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Anticipate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Anticipate"?

There are 45 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Anticipate". Common alternatives include await, expect, hope (for), watch (for), divine, forefeel, foreknow, foresee, prevision and look for.

How do you use "Anticipate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Anticipate" in a sentence: "I anticipate that we'll be seeing you for New Year's"; "I anticipated this unhelpful response".

Is "Anticipate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Anticipate" is a verb.

Is "Anticipate" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Anticipate" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Anticipate"?

"Anticipate" is pronounced /an-ˈti-sə-ˌpāt/ and divided into syllables as an·tic·i·pate.

What is the origin of the word "Anticipate"?

"Anticipate" comes from Latin anticipatus, past participle of anticipare, from ante- + -cipare (from capere to take) heave:1. First known use: 1532t.