Reading Theme:
Expectation: Definition, Usage & Key Examples (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：anticipation (expectation)
expectation
/ˌɛk.spɛkˈteɪ.ʃən/
n.
A strong feeling or belief that something will happen or that someone will do something.
anticipation
➕
/ænˌtɪs.əˈpeɪ.ʃən/
n.
The act or state of looking forward to or anticipating a future event or outcome.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'exspectare' (to look out for), from 'ex-' (out) + 'spectare' (to look).
💡 Mnemonic
Think: 'Expect a station' – you wait for a train (something to happen) at a station.
📖 Example
Despite studying hard, my exam score was lower than my expectation.
Despite studying hard, my exam score was lower than what I had anticipated.
🔗 Collocations
exceed expectations – to be better than what was anticipated
high expectations – strong beliefs that something will be very good or successful
live up to expectations – to be as good as someone believed or hoped
🔄 Synonyms
anticipation (n.) – The action of anticipating something; expectation or prediction.
hope (n.) – A feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen.
prospect (n.) – The possibility or likelihood of some future event occurring.
🚫 Antonyms
surprise (n.) – An unexpected or astonishing event, fact, or thing.
disappointment (n.) – Sadness or displeasure caused by the non-fulfillment of one's hopes or expectations.
🌱 Derivatives
expect (v.) – To regard something as likely to happen.
expectant (adj.) – Having or showing an excited feeling that something is about to happen.
unexpected (adj.) – Not expected or regarded as likely to happen.
📖 Cultural Story
The word originates from Latin 'exspectatio', meaning 'anticipation'. It is deeply embedded in modern business and psychology, frequently used in contexts like 'managing expectations' in project management or discussing 'expectation vs. reality' in social discourse.
Meaning 2：future inheritance (expectation)
expectation
/ˌɛk.spɛkˈteɪ.ʃən/
n.
The amount of money or property someone is likely to inherit in the future.
future inheritance
➕
/ˈfjuː.tʃər ɪnˈher.ɪ.təns/
n.
Something, especially property or money, that a person is likely to receive in the future, typically from a relative.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
He spent his inheritance recklessly, much to the disappointment of his family's expectation.
He spent his inheritance recklessly, greatly disappointing his family's anticipation of its future use.
🔗 Collocations
financial expectation – anticipated future income or wealth
meet an expectation – to fulfill a predicted future benefit or inheritance
🔄 Synonyms
inheritance (n.) – Assets or property received from a predecessor or ancestor after their death.
prospect (n.) – The possibility or likelihood of future financial or material benefit.
🚫 Antonyms
disinheritance (n.) – The action of depriving someone of the right to inherit; the state of being deprived of an inheritance.
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