What does anticipation mean?
Anticipation is the mental act of looking forward to or expecting something before it happens. It most often describes the pleasurable excitement felt while awaiting a desired event — a holiday, a reunion, an announcement — though it can equally refer to dread of an unwelcome one. Beyond emotion, anticipation also denotes practical foresight: predicting what will occur and preparing for it in advance, as when a chess player anticipates an opponent's move or a business anticipates customer demand. In music, it has a technical sense, describing a note sounded early, before its expected beat. Derived from the Latin 'anticipare', meaning to take beforehand or care for in advance, the word entered English in the sixteenth century. Its common derivatives include the verb 'anticipate' and the adjective 'anticipatory'. Richly versatile and emotionally resonant, anticipation captures one of the most distinctly human experiences: living mentally in a moment that has not yet arrived.
nounThe act of expecting or looking forward to something that is going to happen, often with pleasure or excitement. It can also mean the action of anticipating or forestalling something before it occurs.
- Pleasurable expectation or excitement about a future event.
- The act of foreseeing, predicting, or acting in advance of something.
- (Music) The introduction of a note or chord before the beat on which it is expected.
"She waited in eager anticipation for the results to be announced."
"The children trembled with anticipation as Christmas morning approached."
"Good chess players rely on anticipation of their opponent's next move."
Rarely used; the plural appears mainly in literary or formal contexts referring to multiple distinct expectations.
"Her diary recorded the anticipations she felt at each stage of the journey."
The word 'anticipation' comes from the Latin 'anticipare' — literally 'to take care of ahead of time', meaning Romans were already thinking about thinking ahead two millennia ago.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of anticipation
Anticipation derives from the Latin verb 'anticipare', meaning 'to take beforehand' or 'to act in advance', formed from 'ante-' (before) and 'capere' (to take). The noun passed into English via Latin usage in the sixteenth century, initially carrying senses of foretaste and premature action. Cognates sharing the same root include the verb 'anticipate' and the adjective 'anticipatory'.
Related word forms
How anticipation is actually used
Commonly used with prepositions such as 'in anticipation of' and adjectives like 'eager', 'excited', or 'dreadful' depending on whether the expected event is welcome or feared. The word carries a generally positive connotation but can describe apprehension of unpleasant events as well.
Easily confused with anticipation
Participation means taking part in an activity, while anticipation means expecting or foreseeing something before it happens.