Expect I Expected Expecting People ɪkˈspekt Behaviour Didn’t

• we are expecting a rise in food prices this month.
• don't expect sympathy from me!
• that's not the sort of behaviour i expect of you!
• you can't expect to learn a foreign language in a few months.

expect

1. to think or believe that something will happen or that somebody will do something
• language bank at fall
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/fall_2
• We are expecting a rise in food prices this month.
• Don't expect sympathy from me!
• That's not the sort of behaviour I expect of you!
• You can't expect to learn a foreign language in a few months.
• I looked back, half expecting to see someone following me.
• House prices are expected to rise sharply.
• I didn’t expect him to become a successful writer.
• Do you really expect me to believe you?
• Many people were expecting (that) the peace talks would break down.
• It is expected that the report will suggest some major reforms.
• The number of people using mobile phones to purchase goods and services is expected/likely to more than double by the end of 2015.
• Experts have predicted/forecast that the number of people using their mobile phones to pay for goods and services should exceed 190 million in 2015.
• This figure is set to reach 200 million by 2016.
• By 2015, 800 million mobile phone users worldwide will be participating in social networks via their phone.
• Sales of mobile phones in 2009 were lower than expected.
• The company’s announcement of 1.26 billion handsets sold for the year is in line with predictions.
2. to be waiting for somebody/something to arrive, as this has been arranged
• to expect a visit/call/letter from somebody
• Are you expecting visitors?
• We were expecting him yesterday.
• We were expecting him to arrive yesterday.
3. to demand that somebody will do something because it is their duty or responsibility
• Her parents expected high standards from her.
• He's still getting over his illness, so don't expect too much from him.
• Are you clear what is expected of you?
• They expected all their children to be high achievers.
• We are expected to work on Saturdays.
• I expect to be paid promptly for the work.
• She demanded an immediate explanation.
• All candidates will be required to take a short test.
• I expect to be paid promptly for the work.
• I didn’t want to go but he insisted.
• We insist on the highest standards at all times.
• You’re asking too much of him.
4. used when you think something is probably true
• ‘Will you be late?’ ‘I expect so.’
• ‘Are you going out tonight?’ ‘I don't expect so.’
• ‘Who’s eaten all the cake?’ ‘Tom, I expect/I expect it was Tom.’
5. to be pregnant
• See related entries: Pregnancy
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/topic/pregnancy/expect
• Ann's expecting a baby in June.
6. to be likely to happen; to be quite normal
• A little tiredness after taking these drugs is to be expected.
7. used to tell somebody not to be surprised by something
• She swore at you? What do you expect when you treat her like that?

Extra Examples

• As expected, they lost the election.
• Did you honestly expect me to believe that?
• I didn’t really expect them to come.
• I do not necessarily expect an easy answer to this question.
• I think my parents always expected too much of me.
• I was half expecting to see Jim at the concert.
• I would expect the factory to be working again as normal by next week.
• It would be foolish to expect this at his age.
• It would be unreasonable to expect them to do all that work for free.
• My parents fully expect us to get married.
• She confidently expects to win.
• The economy is widely expected to pick up in the first half of next year.
• The wine list is excellent, as is to be expected from such a high-class restaurant.
• They rightly expect to be obeyed.
• This kind of behaviour is to be expected from a two-year-old.
• Was she really naive enough to expect that he had changed?
• We can expect to see an improvement in the weather over the next few days.
• We expect good results from our employees.
• You are entitled to expect certain minimum standards of accommodation.
• You can hardly expect to learn a foreign language in a few months.
• You can’t seriously expect me to sympathize with you.
• ‘Are you going out tonight?’ ‘I don’t expect so.’
• ‘Will Bill be there?’ ‘I expect so.’
• Are you clear about what is expected of you?
• Don’t expect sympathy from me!
• Don’t expect too much from him.
• Double the expected number of people came to the meeting.
• Her parents expect high standards from her.
• I didn’t expect him to become a successful writer.
• I expect he’ll be late, as usual.
• I’m expecting an important call.
• Many people were expecting that the peace talks would break down.
• That’s not the sort of behaviour I expect of you.

Verb Forms

• present simple I / you / we / they expect
• he / she / it expects
• past simple expected
• past participle expected
• -ing form expecting

Word Origin

• mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘defer action, wait’): from Latin exspectare ‘look out for’, from ex- ‘out’ + spectare ‘to look’ (frequentative of specere ‘see’).