anticipate

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ænˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/ UK /ænˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #12516

Meanings

1

verb
To expect something to happen and be ready for it.

We anticipate heavy traffic, so we should leave early.
2

verb
To look forward to something with excitement.

The children eagerly anticipated the start of their summer holiday.
3

verb
To do something before someone else, or to act in order to prevent something.

A good chess player can anticipate the opponent's next move.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to expect something to... expect foresee

2 verb · to look forward to... look forward to

3 verb · to do something before... preempt forestall

Word family

Forms anticipatedanticipatesanticipating

Derived forms anticipableanticipatableanticipatelyanticipatinglyanticipativeanticipatorunanticipating

Related forms anticipation anticipatory

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin anticipātus, perfect passive participle of anticipō (“to anticipate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ante- (“before”), + capiō (“to take”, cip- when prefixed) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). See capable.

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# anticipate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ænˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /ænˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 12516

## Meanings
1. To expect something to happen and be ready for it.
2. To look forward to something with excitement.
3. To do something before someone else, or to act in order to prevent something.

## Examples
- We anticipate heavy traffic, so we should leave early.
- The children eagerly anticipated the start of their summer holiday.
- A good chess player can anticipate the opponent's next move.

## Derived Forms
- anticipable
- anticipatable
- anticipately
- anticipatingly
- anticipative
- anticipator
- unanticipating

## Related Forms
- anticipation
- anticipatory

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin anticipātus, perfect passive participle of anticipō (“to anticipate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ante- (“before”), + capiō (“to take”, cip- when prefixed) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). See capable.

## AI Etymology
Anticipate is borrowed from Latin anticipātus, perfect passive participle of anticipō (“to anticipate”), from ante- (“before”), plus capiō (“to take”, cip- when prefixed) plus -ō (verb-forming suffix). Compare capable. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern verbal form is built from the named base and affix.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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