Dictionary

anticipate en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ænˈtɪs.ə.peɪt/ (Canada, General-American)
• /ænˈtɪs.ɪ.pæɪt/ (Australia)
• [ɛənˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt] (Canada, General-American)
• /ænˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (California) audio
• /ænˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/ (Canada, General-American)
• [ɛənˈtɪs.ə.peɪt] (Canada, General-American)

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin anticipātus, perfect passive participle of anticipō (“to anticipate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ante- (“before”), + capiō (“to take”, cip- when prefixed) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). See capable.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To act before (someone), especially to prevent an action.
   • He would probably have died by the hand of the executioner, if indeed the executioner had not been anticipated by the populace. 1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XX, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC:
   • c. 1824 (written, published in 1891) Robert Hall, Fragment on Popery When two parties, each formidable for their numbers, and the weight of their influence and property, are animated by an equal degree of zeal, it is natural to anticipate the final success of that which possesses the most inherent strength.
2. (transitive) To take up or introduce (something) prematurely.
   • The advocate plans to anticipate a part of her argument.
3. (transitive) To know of (something) before it happens; to expect.
   • The task was more to Appleby's liking than the one he had anticipated, and it was necessary, since the smaller merchants in Cuba and also in parts of Peninsular Spain have no great confidence in bankers, and prefer a packet of golden onzas or a bag of pesetas to the best accredited cheque. 1907 January, Harold Bindloss, chapter 31, in The Dust of Conflict, 1st Canadian edition, Toronto, Ont.: McLeod & Allen, →OCLC:
   • to anticipate the pleasures of a visit
   • But surely they did not anticipate the ease with which their team raced into an almost impregnable half-time lead. 2011 October 2, Jonathan Jurejko, “Bolton 1 - 5 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport:
   • to anticipate the evils of life
   • Please anticipate a journey of an hour from your house to the airport.
4. (transitive) To eagerly wait for (something)
   • Little Johnny started to anticipate the arrival of Santa Claus a week before Christmas.

Forms

Deriveds

anticipable · anticipatingly · anticipator · unanticipating · anticipative · anticipatable · anticipately

Relateds

anticipation · anticipatory

Synonyms

foresee · foretaste · expect · preempt · discount · look forward to · preclude · provide

Translations (62)

pt prever (to know of something before it manifests) · ar تَوَقَّعَ (to know of something before it manifests) · ru опереди́ть (to act before someone) · pt antecipar (to know of something before it manifests) · ru предвосхити́ть (to take up or introduce something prematurely) · ru опережа́ть (to act before someone) · de vorausahnen (to know of something before it manifests) · de erwarten (to take up or introduce something prematurely) · fi varautua (to act before someone) · da forudse (to know of something before it manifests) · ar اِرْتَقَبَ (to know of something before it manifests) · io presavigar (to know of something before it manifests) · fi odottaa (to eagerly await) · fi odottaa (to know of something before it manifests) · bg прибързвам (to take up or introduce something prematurely) · hu izgatottan/örömmel/repesve/türelmetlenül vár (to eagerly await) · la anticipō (to act before someone) · ja 予想する (to know of something before it manifests) · es anticiparse (to act before someone) · cmn 拭目以待 (to eagerly await) · fr prévoir (to know of something before it manifests) · hu alig vár (to eagerly await) · la anteveniō (to know of something before it manifests) · es anticipar (to know of something before it manifests) · ru предви́деть (to know of something before it manifests) · ko 예상하다 (to know of something before it manifests) · grc προλαμβάνω (to know of something before it manifests) · mi whakaneinei (to know of something before it manifests) · eo antaŭĝoji (to eagerly await) · grc προλαμβάνω (to act before someone) · de vorgreifen (to act before someone) · bg изпреварвам (to act before someone) · ca preveure (to know of something before it manifests) · ro anticipa (to know of something before it manifests) · fi varautua (to know of something before it manifests) · ro anticipa (to act before someone) · cmn 期待 (to eagerly await) · fr anticiper (to know of something before it manifests) · ca anticipar (to know of something before it manifests) · pt antecipar (to take up or introduce something prematurely) · kk шамалау (to know of something before it manifests) · txb päkw- (to know of something before it manifests) · pl przewidzieć (to know of something before it manifests) · it prevedere (to know of something before it manifests) · pl antycypować (to know of something before it manifests) · kk межелеу (to know of something before it manifests) · fi ennakoida (to take up or introduce something prematurely) · cmn 預料 /预料 (to know of something before it manifests) · ro prevedea (to know of something before it manifests) · it anticipare (to act before someone) · bg предви́ждам (to know of something before it manifests) · ota اوممق (to know of something before it manifests) · eo anticipi (to take up or introduce something prematurely) · kk болжау (to know of something before it manifests) · lv paredzēt (to know of something before it manifests) · cmn 預想 /预想 (to know of something before it manifests) · de voraussehen (to know of something before it manifests) · la praesūmō (to know of something before it manifests) · pt antecipar-se (to act before someone) · eo anticipi (to act before someone) · ru предвосхища́ть (to take up or introduce something prematurely) · fi ennakoida (to act before someone)