anticipate

English

Etymology

From Latin anticipātus, perfect passive participle of anticipāre (“anticipate”); from ante (“before”), + capere (“take”). See capable.

Pronunciation

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

  • Audio (US)

    (file)

• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ænˈtɪs.ɪ.pæɪt/

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.
   • c. 1824 (written, published in 1891) Robert Hall, Fragment on Popery

     When two parties, each formidable for their numbers, and the weight of their influence and property, are animated by an equal degree of zeal, it is natural to anticipate the final success of that which possesses the most inherent strength.

   • 1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter 20, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volumes (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC:

     He would probably have died by the hand of the executioner, if indeed the executioner had not been anticipated by the populace.

   Synonym: preclude

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:

     But surely they did not anticipate the ease with which their team raced into an almost impregnable half-time lead.

   Synonyms: expect, foretaste, foresee

4. to eagerly wait for (something)

   Little Johnny started to anticipate the arrival of Santa Claus a week before Christmas.

   Synonym: look forward to

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".

Derived terms

Related terms

• anticipation
• anticipatory

Translations

Esperanto

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /antit͡siˈpate/

• Audio

  (file)

Verb

anticipate

1. present adverbial passive participle of anticipi

Ido

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /antit͡siˈpate/

Verb

anticipate

1. adverbial present passive participle of anticipar

Italian

Etymology 1

Verb

anticipate

1. inflection of anticipare:
   1. second-person plural present indicative
   2. second-person plural imperative

Etymology 2

Participle

anticipate f pl

1. feminine plural of anticipato

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /an.ti.kiˈpaː.te/,
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /an.ti.t͡ʃiˈpa.te/,

Verb

anticipāte

1. second-person plural present active imperative of anticipō

Spanish

Verb

anticipate

1. second-person singular voseo imperative of anticipar combined with te