expected; expecting; expects
1
a
: to consider probable or certain
expect to be forgiven
expect that things will improve
b
: to consider reasonable, due, or necessary
expected hard work from the students
c
: to consider bound in duty or obligated
they expect you to pay your bills
2
: to anticipate or look forward to the coming or occurrence of
we expect them any minute now
expected a telephone call
4
archaic
: await
1
: to be pregnant : await the birth of one's child
—used in progressive tenses
she's expecting next month
2
: to look forward
expectedly
adverb
expectedness
noun
Examples of expect in a Sentence
As expected, the election was very close.
It's expected that the new products will be available next month.
Prices are expected to rise.
He's opposed to the new law, as you might expect.
Good things sometimes happen when you least expect them.
I'm expecting a phone call.
The expected delivery date is next month.
He's a teacher who expects hard work from his students.
We expected more from you.
This is not the kind of behavior I expected of you.
Recent Examples on the Web
By Karina Tsui | CNN Powerful winds that fueled fast-moving wildfires across Southern California this week are expected to pick up momentum on Thursday –– worsening conditions for firefighters who are already battling limited visibility to save lives.
—
Cnn.com, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Come winter, conditions are expected to improve through January, but parts of Massachusetts, New Jersey, Delaware and West Virginia will likely still experience some level of drought.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
While the kick drum and bass synth are deep, the speaker struggles to reproduce most of the sub-bass content in the track, but that's to be expected given its size.
—PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
But forecasters say that the worst of the storm, which is expected to continue through Friday, is still on its way.
—Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for expect 
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Cnn.com, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Come winter, conditions are expected to improve through January, but parts of Massachusetts, New Jersey, Delaware and West Virginia will likely still experience some level of drought.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
While the kick drum and bass synth are deep, the speaker struggles to reproduce most of the sub-bass content in the track, but that's to be expected given its size.
—PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
But forecasters say that the worst of the storm, which is expected to continue through Friday, is still on its way.
—Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for expect
Dictionary Entries Near expect
Cite this Entry
“Expect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expect. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
expect
verb
ex·pect
ik-ˈspekt 
1
: to believe that something will occur and wait for it to happen
expect rain
expect her home soon
2
: suppose sense 3, think
who do you expect will win?
3
a
: to consider reasonable, due, or necessary
expect an honest day's work
b
: to consider obligated
expected you to pay your debts
Medical Definition
expect
intransitive verb
ex·pect
ik-ˈspekt
: to be pregnant : await the birth of one's child
—used in progressive tenses
she's expecting next month
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