- expect */*/*/
- UK [ɪkˈspekt] / US
verb [transitive]
Word forms "expect":
present tense I/you/we/they expect he/she/it expects present participle expecting past tense expected past participle expected1)a) to think that something will happenWe're expecting good weather at the weekend.
expect (that):The trial is expected soon.
expect someone/something to do something:Investors expect that the rate of inflation will rise.
I didn't really expect you to understand.
when you least expect it:We were expecting the letter to arrive by now.
half expect (= think that something might happen):An accident can happen at any time, just when you least expect it.
as expected (= in the way you expected):She half expected him to be angry with her.
As expected, the party was a great success.
b) spoken used in negative sentences to tell someone not to be too hopeful about something because it is unlikely to happenDon't expect me to help you.
A new hairstyle will improve your appearance, but you can't expect miracles.
2) [often progressive] to be waiting for someone or something to arriveI'm expecting visitors this evening.
expect someone home/back/in:Are you expecting a parcel?
What time do you expect Sara home?
3) to think that it is right or reasonable that something should happenexpect to do something:Our customers expect good service.
expect someone/something to do something:I expect to get paid on time.
expect something of/from someone:It's not fair to expect me to do all the housework.
the level of fitness expected of a professional footballer
•be expecting (a baby)
— to be pregnantI expect (so)
— spoken used for saying that you think something is probably trueI expect (so) (that):"Will David be coming to the party?" "I expect so."
I expect you're hungry.
it's (only) to be expected
— spoken used for saying that something is completely normalIt's only to be expected that someone would have to cancel.
what do/can you expect?
— spoken used for saying that something does not surprise you, even though it is unpleasant or makes you feel disappointedThe food was awful, but from a school canteen what do you expect?
what/how/when etc do you expect...?
— spoken used for telling someone in a slightly annoyed way that something is not possible or reasonableHow do you expect me to guess what you're thinking?
English dictionary. 2014.