Synonym Chooser

How is the word anticipate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of anticipate are divine, foreknow, and foresee. While all these words mean "to know beforehand," anticipate implies taking action about or responding emotionally to something before it happens.

the waiter anticipated our every need

How are the words divine and foresee related as synonyms of anticipate?

Divine adds to foresee the suggestion of exceptional wisdom or discernment.

was able to divine Europe's rapid recovery from the war

When would foreknow be a good substitute for anticipate?

Although the words foreknow and anticipate have much in common, foreknow usually implies supernatural assistance, as through revelation.

if only we could foreknow our own destinies

In what contexts can foresee take the place of anticipate?

The synonyms foresee and anticipate are sometimes interchangeable, but foresee implies nothing about how the knowledge is derived and may apply to ordinary reasoning and experience.

economists should have foreseen the recession

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of anticipate The upcoming games, the fourth in Italy (following the 1956 Winter Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, and the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin) and the first in Milan, is anticipated to be nothing short of glamorous. Tiana Attride, AFAR Media, 12 Sep. 2025 The duel didn’t deliver as anticipated — Skubal left in the fourth inning due to tightness in his left side and wasn’t at his best prior to that — but Alcantara shined, and so did the Marlins. Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025 November made a lasting impression on the troupe and him as well, Cerrudo said, and the group anticipates working with him again. Lisa Vernon Sparks, Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2025 Yes, that’s right — nearly as anticipated as fall foliage, the cocottes, butter dishes, mugs and more are available for purchase. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for anticipate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anticipate
Verb
  • Under the new Fish and Wildlife interim pintail harvest strategy, hunters in all four flyways are expected to have a three-pintail daily bag limit option for next year's 2026–'27 season based on this year's breeding population results.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2025
  • He’s expected to again advance out of the committee.
    Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Of these, 20 percent believe the effects will be significant, 46 percent expect these to be moderate and 16 percent foresee a minimal impact, with 16 percent unsure and only two percent expecting no impact whatsoever.
    Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Over the next year, respondents also foresee a rising unemployment rate, lower earnings growth potential and a higher chance of losing their jobs.
    Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Unfortunately, Samsung’s challenge is that while applying the fix is urgent, users must await their turn.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Now, a shower is installed but awaiting an organized signup system.
    Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Before all that happened, though, there was the eight-course dinner, which went totally fine as predicted.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Explore Fall, a website that provides resources and tools to track the changing colors of leaves, is predicting an earlier and quicker fall foliage peak for the millions of people looking to see this year's natural spectacle.
    Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Anticipate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anticipate. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on anticipate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!