verb
anticipate
an-TIHS-ih-payt
verb
1
To expect something and prepare for it in advance.
"The team anticipated tough questions and rehearsed their answers."
"We anticipate a busy weekend, so extra staff have been scheduled."
2
To act ahead of someone or something, often to head off a problem before it happens.
"A skilled goalkeeper anticipates the shot before the striker even kicks the ball."
How to Use Anticipate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo expect something in advance and get ready for it.
Common mistake
Some people use "anticipate" to simply mean "expect," but its stronger sense implies preparing for or acting ahead of the thing expected.
Common pairings
anticipate a problem
anticipate demand
widely anticipated
Word Forms
anticipated past tense, anticipates singular
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The team _____ tough questions and rehearsed their answers.
Etymology
From Latin anticipare, "to take beforehand," from ante- ("before") and capere ("to take").