What does anticipative mean?
Anticipative is a rare English adjective describing someone or something marked by anticipation — an expectant, forward-looking state of mind. Where the verb 'anticipate' is among the most familiar words in English, 'anticipative' is its little-used adjectival counterpart, appearing mostly in literary or formal contexts. A child waiting at the window might wear an anticipative expression; a crowd might fall anticipatively silent before an announcement. The word derives from Latin roots shared with 'anticipate', 'anticipation', and 'anticipatory', all tracing back to 'anticipare', meaning to take care of beforehand or to foresee. In practice, writers more often reach for 'anticipatory', which describes actions taken in advance, or 'expectant', which conveys eager waiting. Knowing 'anticipative' nonetheless enriches one's grasp of this word family and offers a precise term for the quiet, charged feeling of expecting what comes next.
adjectiveCharacterized by anticipation; showing expectation or foresight regarding something that is about to happen.
- Showing or characterized by anticipation; expectant of something to come.
"She gave an anticipative smile as she waited for the results to be announced."
"The dog gave an anticipative bark the moment it heard the leash jingle."
"His anticipative glance at the door betrayed how eagerly he awaited her arrival."
While 'anticipate' is one of English's most common verbs, its adjective cousin 'anticipative' is so rare it barely registers in most dictionaries — making it a genuine vocabulary flex.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of anticipative
Anticipative derives from the Latin verb 'anticipare', composed of 'ante' (before) and 'capere' (to take), originally meaning to take or deal with something in advance. The word entered English through the same root that produced 'anticipate' and 'anticipation', which became established in English in the 16th century, with the adjective form following later. Its closest relatives are 'anticipatory' and the rarer 'anticipant', all members of the same Latin-derived family.
Related word forms
How anticipative is actually used
A rare and somewhat literary adjective; 'anticipatory' and 'expectant' are far more common in modern usage. 'Anticipative' tends to appear in older texts and formal writing.
Easily confused with anticipative
Anticipatory describes something done in advance of an event (such as anticipatory bail), while anticipative describes a person's expectant state of mind.
Anticipant is chiefly a noun meaning one who anticipates, whereas anticipative is an adjective describing the quality of being expectant.