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Glite Dictionary
🔜 To anticipate 📋 To require 🤰 To be pregnant
to expect

to expect

816 3.0
To carry a baby before birth
  • verb
  • /ɪkˈspɛkt/
translation icon : estar embarazada
  • They announced that they are expecting twins later this year.
  • expecting a child

Examples

  • We are very excited because we are expecting a baby in the spring.

  • We've been expecting you.

    The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)

  • Wife and I are expecting our first child in June up.

  • As soon as we found out we were expecting, the dad left.

    What Happens Later (2023)

  • You are expecting twins and congratulations on that.

  • We weren't expecting you back so early.

    Eating Miss Campbell (2022)

  • After a visit to the doctor, she learned that she was expecting her first child.

Synonyms

to carry
vsto expect
290 4.4

Be pregnant with a child or young animal

is broader, also means waiting for the baby's birth not only the body state
to gestate
vsto expect
  • Specialized
4 7.6

To carry a baby in the womb until birth

focuses on general pregnancy or waiting rather than the scientific time span
to have a bun in the oven
vsto expect
  • Informal
1 8.4

To be pregnant and expecting a baby

is neutral and literal rather than informal or playful expression

Surface Forms

expect infinitive
expected past
expected past participle
expecting present participle
expects third person singular

Etymology

Expect comes from the Latin parts ex- 'out' and spectare 'to look'. So to be expecting a baby is like 'looking out' for the baby to arrive.