anticipationnoun [ U ]
uk/ænˌtɪs.ɪˈpeɪ.ʃən/us/ænˌtɪs.əˈpeɪ.ʃən/C2 a feeling of excitement about something that is going to happen in the near future:
As with most pleasures, it's not so much the experience itself as the anticipation that is enjoyable.
The postponement of the film's sequel has held cinemagoers in eager anticipation for several months.
in anticipation (of)
C2 in preparation for something happening:
She's even decorated the spare room in anticipation of your visit.
More examples
- The audience waited in great anticipation, but nothing happened.
- The city was filled with anticipation in the weeks before the festival.
- We stood on the platform in anticipation, only to be told that the train was cancelled.
- The children jumped up and down in anticipation as the presents were produced.
- After months of anticipation, the holiday was a bit of a disappointment actually.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Planning, expecting and arranging
- accidentally
- accidentally on purpose idiom
- advertent
- advisedly
- aim
- aim at sth
- calculate
- chart
- engineer
- in the pipeline idiom
- intend
- intent
- intention
- intentional
- promise
- scheme
- scientific
- see sth coming idiom
- set sth up
- strategic
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