• IPA: /ɪkˈspɛkt/, /ɛkˈspɛkt/

expect (expects, present participle expecting; past and past participle expected)

1. (ambitransitive) To predict or believe that something will happen

   Synonyms: anticipate, hope, look for

   I expect to be able to walk again after getting over my broken leg.

   He never expected to be discovered.

   We ended up waiting a little longer than we had expected

   The doctor said he expected me to make a full recovery.

   • 2018, VOA Learning English > China's Melting Glacier Brings Visitors, Adds to Climate Concerns ↗

     And temperatures are expected to keep rising.

2. To consider obligatory or required.

   Synonyms: call for, demand

   • 1805, Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson via John Pasco, England expects that every man will do his duty sent at the Battle of Trafalgar:

     England expects that every man will do his duty.

3. To consider reasonably due.

   Synonyms: hope, want, wish

   You are expected to get the task done by the end of next week.

4. (continuous aspect only, of a woman or couple) To be pregnant, to consider a baby due.
   • 2011, Eva Fischer-Dixon, The Bestseller

     “You are pregnant?” he asked with shock in his voice. “Yes, Justin, I am expecting a child,”

5. (obsolete, transitive) To wait for; to await.

   Synonyms: await, Thesaurus:wait for

   • c. 1596–1598, William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act V, scene i]:

     Let's in, and there expect their coming.

   • 1825, Walter Scott, The Talisman (Scott novel), A. and C. Black (1868), 24-25:

     The knight fixed his eyes on the opening with breathless anxiety, and continuing to kneel in the attitude of devotion which the place and scene required, expected the consequence of these preparations.

6. (obsolete, intransitive) To wait; to stay.

   Synonyms: wait

• expectable
• expectancy
• expectant
• expectation noun

• French: attendre, s'attendre à
• German: erwarten
• Italian: aspettarsi, pensare
• Portuguese: esperar, aguardar
• Russian: наде́яться
• Spanish: esperar

• French: attendre
• German: erwarten
• Italian: aspettarsi
• Portuguese: esperar
• Russian: ожида́ть

• German: erwarten
• Italian: aspettarsi
• Portuguese: prever
• Russian: ожида́ть