expectations

plural of expectation
as in anticipations
the act or state of looking forward to some occurrence in expectation of a harsh winter, we budgeted more money than usual for the cost of heating our home

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of expectations Approaching life with positive expectations, a get-up-and-go attitude, and eagerness is related to many good things in life. — Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026 Relationships between older women and younger men are drawing more attention as traditional dating expectations continue to shift. — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026 Finally, when expectations crested for the Jayhawks, they got pummeled on their home turf. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026 Of course, one is inevitably loaded with expectations and prejudices, but the ideal of letting the work teach you how to consider it, as the philosopher Stanely Cavell counseled, is a useful starting point. — Lola Seaton, The New York Review of Books, 17 Oct. 2026 Still, the Panthers have leaped above all expectations, establishing themselves as one of the best teams nationwide in head coach DeMarcus Harris’ first year at the helm. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Oct. 2026 Investors sent chip stocks soaring this year on expectations for a massive AI buildout and a shortage of chips that would allow the companies to reap enormous profits. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026 The role also showed him how universal some of the film’s situations are, from a couple’s difficulty communicating to the pressure of social expectations and the questions people ask themselves about their place in the world. — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026 Supplier orders can shift with demand expectations, inventory levels, and component availability. — Fernanda Tronco, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expectations
anticipations
Noun
  • Expectations of rate cuts at central banks like the Federal Reserve and the Bank of England have fallen, and in many cases been replaced by anticipations of hawkish monetary policy, sending yields on some European bonds to multi-decade highs.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
  • For traders focused on specific events, having a strong grasp of historical trends can be beneficial, although the results are largely contingent on how the company’s outcomes measure up to market anticipations.
    — Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Expectations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expectations. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster