What does expect mean?
Expect is one of the most frequently used verbs in English, meaning to regard something as likely to occur, to believe that someone will act in a certain way, or to await the arrival of a person or event. It expresses anticipation grounded in reason or evidence rather than mere hope: we expect rain when clouds gather, and we expect a friend at six if they said they'd come at six. The verb carries a subtle emotional weight — expectations can be met, exceeded, or disappointed, which is why phrases like 'expect the worst' and 'expect too much of someone' are so common. In informal usage, saying a couple 'is expecting' signals pregnancy. Derived from the Latin exspectare, meaning 'to look out for', the word has kept its core image of watching for what lies ahead, making it both practical and evocative.
verbTo regard something as likely to happen or to believe that someone will do or produce something; to await the arrival or occurrence of someone or something.
- To regard something as likely to happen or be the case.
- To believe that someone will do or provide something.
- To await the arrival or birth of someone (e.g. 'we're expecting guests').
"We expect the delivery to arrive by noon."
"I expect the results will be published next week."
"She didn't expect such a warm welcome."
"Expect" comes from Latin spectare, 'to watch' — so when you expect something, you're literally keeping an eye out for it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of expect
Expect derives from the Latin verb exspectare, formed from ex- ('out') and spectare ('to look, watch'), literally meaning 'to look out for'. The word entered English via Old French expecter in the early modern period, around the late 16th century. It shares its Latin root with words such as inspect, spectacle, and expectation, all built on the same notion of seeing or watching.
Related word forms
How expect is actually used
Common in both formal and informal registers. In the progressive form 'to be expecting', it often specifically means to be pregnant, especially in informal speech.
Easily confused with expect
To expect is to think something likely, while to suspect is to doubt or distrust it or believe it guilty of wrongdoing.