Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
anti-Semitic
anti-Semitism
anti-utopia
antiadrenergic
antiaircraft
antiaircraft gun
antialiasing
antiangina
antiarrhythmic
antiart
antiatom
antiballistic missile
antibaryon
Antibes
antibiosis
antibiotic
antibody
Click to move down the list of words
Also available:

World English Dictionary
Dictionnaire Français

anticipate

an·tic·i·pate [ an tíssi pàyt ] (past and past participle an·tic·i·pat·ed, present participle an·tic·i·pat·ing, 3rd person present singular an·tic·i·pates)


transitive verb 
Definition:
 
1. expect something: to think or be fairly sure that something will happen
We anticipate a few problems in the early stages.

2. look forward to something: to feel excited, hopeful, or eager about something that is going to happen
anticipating Saturday's concert

3. act beforehand to address something imminent: to imagine or consider something before it happens and make any necessary preparations or changes
anticipate flooding next week

4. prevent something: to succeed in preventing or avoiding something by acting in advance

5. start something ahead of others: to say or do something before it becomes common or fashionable ( formal )

6. act in hope of something happening: to act on the promise or expectation of something, before it has been given or confirmed ( formal )
frequently anticipated his salary

[Mid-16th century. < Latin anticipat-, past participle of anticipare "catch beforehand" < capere "seize, take"]

an·tic·i·pa·tive [ an tíssi pàytiv, an tíssipəytiv ] adjective
an·tic·i·pa·tor noun

Word Usage
Anticipating trouble:

If you anticipate trouble, it often just means that you are expecting or foreseeing trouble; the word's more traditional meaning is that you are taking steps to prevent trouble, that is, forestalling rather than expecting it. Both these meanings are acceptable; however, some critics object to unanticipated as used in seven unanticipated overnight guests, where unexpected is the preferred choice.

Advertisement

© 2009 Microsoft