noun
anticipation
an-tihs-ih-PAY-shuhn
noun
1
The feeling of excitement or nervousness while waiting for something to happen.
"The children could barely sleep with anticipation the night before the trip."
"There was a real sense of anticipation in the stadium before kickoff."
2
The act of expecting or preparing for something before it occurs.
"In anticipation of the storm, residents boarded up their windows."
How to Use Anticipation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe eager or nervous feeling of waiting for something, or the act of preparing ahead of time.
Common pairings
in anticipation of
wait with anticipation
build anticipation
Word Forms
anticipations plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “anticipation”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The children could barely sleep with _____ the night before the trip.
Etymology
From Latin anticipatio, built on the same root as anticipate.