Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Anticipate

An-tic′i-pate

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Anticipated
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Anticipating
.]
[L.
anticipatus
, p. p. of
anticipare
to anticipate;
ante
+
capere
to make. See
Capable
.]
1.
To be before in doing; to do or take before another; to preclude or prevent by prior action.
To
anticipate
and prevent the duke’s purpose.
R. Hall.
He would probably have died by the hand of the executioner, if indeed the executioner had not been
anticipated
by the populace.
Macaulay.
2.
To take up or introduce beforehand, or before the proper or normal time; to cause to occur earlier or prematurely;
as, the advocate has
anticipated
a part of his argument
.
3.
To foresee (a wish, command, etc.) and do beforehand that which will be desired.
4.
To foretaste or foresee; to have a previous view or impression of;
as, to
anticipate
the pleasures of a visit; to
anticipate
the evils of life.
Syn. – To prevent; obviate; preclude; forestall; expect.
– To
Anticipate
,
Expect
. These words, as here compared, agree in regarding some future event as about to take place. Expect is the stringer. It supposes some ground or reason in the mind for considering the event as likely to happen. Anticipate is, literally, to take beforehand, and here denotes simply to take into the mind as conception of the future. Hence, to say, “I did not anticipate a refusal,” expresses something less definite and strong than to say, “ did not expect it.” Still, anticipate is a convenient word to be interchanged with expect in cases where the thought will allow.
Good with bad
Expect
to hear; supernal grace contending
With sinfulness of men.
Milton.
I would not
anticipate
the relish of any happiness, nor feel the weight of any misery, before it actually arrives.
Spectator.
Timid men were
anticipating
another civil war.
Macaulay.

Webster 1828 Edition

Anticipate

ANTIC'IPATE

,
Verb.
T.
[L. anticipo, of ante, before, and capio, to take.]
1.
To take or act, before another, so as to prevent him; to take first possession.
2.
To take before the proper time; as, the advocate has anticipated that part of his argument.
3.
To foretaste or foresee; to have a previous view or impression of something future; as, to anticipate the pleasures of an entertainment; to anticipate the evils of life.
4.
To prevent by crowding in before; to preclude.
[This sense is essentially included in the first.]

Definition 2024

anticipate

anticipate

English

Verb

anticipate ‎(third-person singular simple present anticipates, present participle anticipating, simple past and past participle anticipated)

  1. (transitive) To act before (someone), especially to prevent an action.
    To anticipate and prevent the duke's purpose. --R. Hall.
    He would probably have died by the hand of the executioner, if indeed the executioner had not been anticipated by the populace. -- Thomas Babington Macaulay.
  2. to take up or introduce (something) prematurely.
    The advocate plans to anticipate a part of her argument.
  3. to know of (something) before it happens; to expect.
    to anticipate the pleasures of a visit
    to anticipate the evils of life
    Please anticipate a journey of an hour from your house to the airport
    • 1907, Harold Bindloss, chapter 31, in The Dust of Conflict:
      The task was more to Appleby's liking than the one he had anticipated, and it was necessary, since the smaller merchants in Cuba and also in parts of Peninsular Spain have no great confidence in bankers, and prefer a packet of golden onzas or a bag of pesetas to the best accredited cheque.
    • 2011 October 2, Jonathan Jurejko, “Bolton 1 - 5 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport:
      And with Bolton suffering a wretched run of five straight home defeats - their worst run in 109 years - Chelsea fans would have been forgiven for expecting a comfortable win.
      But surely they did not anticipate the ease with which their team raced into an almost impregnable half-time lead.
  4. to eagerly wait for (something)
    Little Johnny started to anticipate the arrival of Santa Claus a week before Christmas.

Usage notes

The words anticipate and expect both regard some future event as likely to take place. Nowadays they are often used interchangeably although anticipate is associated with acting because of an expectation. (E.g. skilled sportsmen anticipate the action and position themselves accordingly.)

Synonyms

Related terms

Translations

Italian

Verb

anticipate

  1. second-person plural present indicative of anticipare
  2. second-person plural imperative of anticipare
  3. feminine plural of anticipato

Latin

Verb

anticipāte

  1. first-person plural present active imperative of anticipō

Etymology

Latin anticipatus, perfect passive participle of anticipare ‎(“anticipate”); from ante ‎(“before”), + capere ‎(“take”). See Capable.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ænˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ænˈtɪs.ə.peɪt/

Similar Results