Synonyms for anticipate
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Expect — to know of (something) before it happens; to expect
expect, foresee, predict, foretaste, foretell, forecast, promise, call, foreknow, prognosticate, forebode, previse, forescent, presage, bode, prophesy
2. Prevent — to act before (someone), especially to prevent an action
preclude, provide, obviate, preempt, discount, prevent dated
3. Await
Definitions
- v. 1
To act before (someone), especially to prevent an action.
- v. 2
To know of (something) before it happens; to expect.
to anticipate the evils of life
- v. 3
To take up or introduce (something) prematurely.
The advocate plans to anticipate a part of her argument.
- v. 4
To eagerly wait for (something)
Little Johnny started to anticipate the arrival of Santa Claus a week before Christmas.
Related words
Forms
- Past participle
- anticipated
e.g. anticipated → expected, foreseen, predicted, foretasted…
Choose the right word
To anticipate may be either to take before in fact or to take before in thought; in the former sense it is allied with prevent; in the latter, with the synonyms above given. Anticipate is commonly used now, like foretaste, of that which we expect both with confidence and pleasure.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- expect You can't expect me to always think of everything!
- predict Tom actually believed he could predict the future.
- foresee No one can foresee how that result will turn out.
- provide We must provide the victims with food and clothes.
- preclude You can be both kind and firm. One does not preclude the other.
By length
- 4 letters
- look1, call1, hope1, bode1
- 5 letters
- await2
- 6 letters
- expect2, proact
- 7 letters
- provide2, prevent2, promise2, counter2, predict2, presume2, foresee2, preempt2, presage2, obviate3, previse
- 8 letters
- discount2, forecast2, preclude2, prophesy, foretell2, antedate, forebode2, foreknow
- 9 letters
- intercept3, apprehend3, forestall2, foretaste2, forescent
- 13 letters
- prognosticate4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (await2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- anticiper
- Italiano
- anticipare
- Español
- anticipar
- Deutsch
- antizipieren
- Català
- anticipar