expectation */*/*/

UK [ˌekspekˈteɪʃ(ə)n] / US noun
Word forms "expectation":
singular expectation plural expectations

1) [countable/uncountable] the belief that something will happen

expectation of:

The team set off without any expectation of success.

in expectation of:

His associate had given the information in expectation of a reduced penalty.

contrary to/against (all/someone's) expectations (= although something was not what you expected):

Contrary to her expectations, Caroline found the show very entertaining.

in line with expectations (= the same as people expected):

The rise in inflation is broadly in line with expectations.

2) [countable, usually plural] a belief that something should happen in a particular way, or that someone or something should have particular qualities or behaviour

Mark and Susie went into marriage with very different expectations.

The two teachers have different expectations of their students.

exceed/surpass someone's expectations (= be better than someone expected):

The success of the product has exceeded all our expectations.

beyond (all) expectations (= much better than expected):

The team has performed beyond all expectations.

have high/low expectations (= expect something to be very good or very bad):

parents with high expectations of their children

come up to/live up to/meet someone's expectations (= be as good as someone expected):

We had heard so much about the restaurant, but it did not live up to our expectations.