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Anticipation: meaning, definitions and examples

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anticipation

 

[ ænˌtɪsɪˈpeɪʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

feeling

The act of looking forward to or predicting something happening in the future. It involves a mixture of excitement, hope, and anxiety.

Synonyms

eagerness, excitement, expectation, hope

Examples of usage

  • I waited with anticipation for the results of the exam.
  • She felt a sense of anticipation as she approached the stage.
  • The anticipation of her birthday party kept her excited all week.
Context #2 | Noun

literature

A literary device where the author hints at future events or outcomes in a story, creating tension and suspense for the reader.

Synonyms

foreshadowing, prediction, suspense

Examples of usage

  • The author's use of anticipation in the opening chapter left readers eager to discover what would happen next.
  • The novel was filled with anticipation, making it a page-turner for many.

Translations

Translations of the word "anticipation" in other languages:

🇵🇹 antecipação

🇮🇳 प्रतीक्षा

🇩🇪 Vorfreude

🇮🇩 antisipasi

🇺🇦 очікування

🇵🇱 oczekiwanie

🇯🇵 期待 (きたい)

🇫🇷 anticipation

🇪🇸 anticipación

🇹🇷 beklenti

🇰🇷 기대

🇸🇦 توقع

🇨🇿 očekávání

🇸🇰 očakávanie

🇨🇳 期待 (qīdài)

🇸🇮 pričakovanje

🇮🇸 vænting

🇰🇿 күту

🇬🇪 მოლოდინი

🇦🇿 gözləmə

🇲🇽 anticipación

Etymology

The word 'anticipation' has its roots in the Latin word 'anticipatio', meaning 'a taking beforehand'. It entered the English language in the mid-16th century. Over time, it has come to represent the feeling of looking forward to something with excitement and expectation. The concept of anticipation plays a significant role in psychology, literature, and everyday life, reflecting our innate desire to anticipate and prepare for future events.

See also: anticipatable, anticipate, anticipated, anticipating, anticipatingly, anticipatory, unanticipated.

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,976 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.