expect

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   look forward to the birth of a child

   I am expecting in March.

2. 2
   verb

   consider reasonable or due

   I'm expecting a full explanation as to why these files were destroyed

3. 3
   verb

   regard something as probable or likely

   The meteorologists are expecting rain for tomorrow

4. 4
   verb

   look forward to the probable occurrence of

   We were expecting a visit from our relatives

5. 5
   verb

   consider obligatory

   request and expect

6. 6
   verb

   To predict or believe that something will happen

   when you least expect it

7. 7
   verb

   To consider obligatory or required.

   England expects that every man will do his duty.

8. 8
   verb

   To consider reasonably due.

   My parents expected too much of me when I was in college.

Etymology

From Latin expectāre, infinitive form of exspectō (“look out for, await, expect”), from ex (“out”) + spectō (“look at”), frequentative of speciō (“see”).