an ‧ tic ‧ i ‧ pate S3 AC /ænˈtɪsəpeɪt, ænˈtɪsɪpeɪt/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ anticipatory , anticipated ≠ ↑ unanticipated ; verb : ↑ anticipate ; noun : ↑ anticipation ]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: past participle of anticipare , from ante- ( ⇨ ↑ ante- ) + capere 'to take' ]
1 . to expect that something will happen and be ready for it:
Sales are better than anticipated.
anticipate changes/developments
The schedule isn’t final, but we don’t anticipate many changes.
anticipate problems/difficulties
We don’t anticipate any problems.
A good speaker is able to anticipate an audience’s needs and concerns.
anticipate (that)
This year, we anticipate that our expenses will be 15% greater.
It is anticipated that the research will have many different practical applications.
anticipate doing something
I didn’t anticipate having to do the cooking myself!
2 . to think about something that is going to happen, especially something pleasant SYN look forward to :
Daniel was eagerly anticipating her arrival.
3 . to do something before someone else:
Copernicus anticipated in part the discoveries of the 17th and 18th centuries.
—anticipatory /ænˌtɪsəˈpeɪt ə ri, ænˌtɪsɪˈpeɪt ə ri $ ænˈtɪsəpətɔːri/ adjective formal :
the anticipatory atmosphere of a big college football game