First Known Use: 1532
Dictionary
anticipate
verb an·tic·i·pate \an-ˈti-sə-ˌpāt\
: to think of (something that will or might happen in the future)
: to expect or look ahead to (something) with pleasure : to look forward to (something)
: to do something before someone else
an·tic·i·pat·edan·tic·i·pat·ing
Full Definition of ANTICIPATE
transitive verb
1
: to give advance thought, discussion, or treatment to
2
: to meet (an obligation) before a due date
3
: to foresee and deal with in advance : forestall
4
: to use or expend in advance of actual possession
5
: to act before (another) often so as to check or counter
6
: to look forward to as certain : expect
intransitive verb
: to speak or write in knowledge or expectation of later matter
— an·tic·i·pat·able \-ˌpā-tə-bəl\ adjective
— an·tic·i·pa·tor \-ˌpā-tər\ noun
See anticipate defined for English-language learners
See anticipate defined for kids
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Origin of ANTICIPATE
Latin anticipatus, past participle of anticipare, from ante- + -cipare (from capere to take) — more at heave
Related to ANTICIPATE
- Synonyms
- expect, await, hope (for), watch (for)
Synonym Discussion of ANTICIPATE
foresee, foreknow, divine, anticipate mean to know beforehand. foresee implies nothing about how the knowledge is derived and may apply to ordinary reasoning and experience <economists should have foreseen the recession>. foreknow usually implies supernatural assistance, as through revelation <if only we could foreknow our own destinies>. divine adds to foresee the suggestion of exceptional wisdom or discernment <was able to divine Europe's rapid recovery from the war>. anticipate implies taking action about or responding emotionally to something before it happens <the waiter anticipated our every need>.
prevent, anticipate, forestall mean to deal with beforehand. prevent implies taking advance measures against something possible or probable <measures taken to prevent leaks>. anticipate may imply merely getting ahead of another by being a precursor or forerunner or it may imply checking another's intention by acting first <anticipated the question by making a statement>. forestall implies a getting ahead so as to stop or interrupt something in its course <hoped to forestall the sale>.
prevent, anticipate, forestall mean to deal with beforehand. prevent implies taking advance measures against something possible or probable <measures taken to prevent leaks>. anticipate may imply merely getting ahead of another by being a precursor or forerunner or it may imply checking another's intention by acting first <anticipated the question by making a statement>. forestall implies a getting ahead so as to stop or interrupt something in its course <hoped to forestall the sale>.
Rhymes with ANTICIPATE
abbreviate, abominate, accelerate, accentuate, accommodate, acculturate, accumulate, adjudicate, adulterate, affiliate, agglomerate, alienate, alleviate, alliterate, amalgamate, ameliorate, amyl nitrate, annihilate, annunciate, apostolate, appreciate, appropriate, approximate, arpeggiate, articulate, asphyxiate, assassinate, asseverate, assimilate, associate, at any rate, attenuate, authenticate, barbiturate, bicarbonate, calumniate, capacitate, capitulate, catholicate, certificate, coagulate, coelenterate, collaborate, commemorate, commiserate, communicate, compassionate, concatenate, conciliate, confabulate, confederate, conglomerate, congratulate, consolidate, contaminate, cooperate, coordinate, corroborate, deactivate, debilitate, decapitate, decelerate, decerebrate, deconcentrate, deconsecrate, decorticate, decrepitate, de-escalate, defibrinate, defoliate, degenerate, deliberate, delineate, demodulate, denominate, depopulate, depreciate, deracinate, deregulate, desegregate, desiderate, detoxicate, devaluate, diaconate, dilapidate, discriminate, disintegrate, disseminate, dissimulate, dissociate, domesticate, effectuate, ejaculate, elaborate, electroplate, eliminate, elucidate, emaciate, emancipate, emasculate, encapsulate, enumerate, enunciate, episcopate, equivocate, eradicate, etiolate, evacuate, evaluate, evaporate, eventuate, eviscerate, exacerbate, exaggerate, exasperate, excited state, excogitate, excoriate, exfoliate, exhilarate, exonerate, expatiate, expatriate, expectorate, expostulate, expropriate, extenuate, exterminate, extrapolate, facilitate, felicitate, fish or cut bait, garrison state, gesticulate, habilitate, habituate, hallucinate, humiliate, hydrogenate, hypothecate, illuminate, impersonate, inactivate, inaugurate, incarcerate, incinerate, incorporate, incriminate, indoctrinate, inebriate, infatuate, infuriate, ingratiate, ingurgitate, initiate, inoculate, inseminate, insinuate, instantiate, intercalate, interpolate, interrelate, interrogate, intimidate, intoxicate, invalidate, investigate, invigorate, irradiate, Italianate, Korea Strait, lanceolate, legitimate, luxuriate, mandarinate, manipulate, matriarchate, matriculate, Merthiolate, necessitate, negotiate, noncandidate, obliterate, officiate, Orange Free State, orientate, originate, oxygenate, participate, particulate, patriarchate, patriciate, perambulate, peregrinate, perpetuate, pontificate, precipitate, predestinate, predominate, prefabricate, premeditate, preponderate, prevaricate, procrastinate, prognosticate, proliferate, propitiate, proportionate, quadruplicate, quintuplicate, reciprocate, recriminate, recuperate, redecorate, reduplicate, reeducate, refrigerate, regenerate, regurgitate, reincarnate, reintegrate, reiterate, rejuvenate, remunerate, repatriate, repudiate, resuscitate, retaliate, reticulate, revaluate, reverberate, scholasticate, second estate, self-flagellate, self-immolate, self-pollinate, seventy-eight, sextuplicate, Singapore Strait, sophisticate, subordinate, substantiate, syllabicate, tergiversate, transliterate, triangulate, vanity plate, variegate, vaticinate, vituperate, vociferate
ANTICIPATE Defined for Kids
anticipate
verb an·tic·i·pate \an-ˈti-sə-ˌpāt\
an·tic·i·pat·edan·tic·i·pat·ing
Definition of ANTICIPATE for Kids
1
: to foresee and deal with or provide for beforehand <The waiters anticipate your every wish.>
2
: to look forward to <… now everyone anticipated the celebration. — Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising>
Medical Dictionary
anticipate
verb an·tic·i·pate \an-ˈtis-ə-ˌpāt\
an·tic·i·pat·edan·tic·i·pat·ing
Medical Definition of ANTICIPATE
transitive verb
: to give advance thought to
intransitive verb
: to come before the expected time—used especially of medical symptoms
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