Expecting
/ɪkˈspektɪŋ/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo anticipate or look forward to something happening or to be received.
/ɪkˈspekt/
To anticipate or look forward to something.
We are expecting guests for dinner tonight.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're waiting for your birthday party to start. You're expecting lots of fun and cake! Expecting means thinking that something is going to happen or arrive soon.
👶 For kids: To think something will happen, like when you expect it to rain.
More Examples
The company expects profits to increase next quarter.
She is expecting her first child.
How It's Used
"I am expecting a package in the mail."
"The committee expects a full report by Friday."
To be pregnant.
/ɪkˈspekt/
She is expecting her first child.
💡 Simply: When a woman is going to have a baby, we say she's expecting! It's like she has a special passenger on board.
👶 For kids: When a mommy is going to have a baby inside her tummy.
More Examples
They are expecting twins.
How It's Used
"She is expecting a baby in December."
From Middle English expecten, from Latin expectāre (“to await, to look out for”), from ex- (“out”) + spectāre (“to look at”).
The word 'expect' has been used since the 14th century and originally meant 'to await'. Over time, it gained the additional meaning of anticipating something to happen.
Memory tip
Think of 'spect' as seeing something in your mind's eye before it happens.