anticipation
noun
an·tic·i·pa·tion
(ˌ)an-ˌti-sə-ˈpā-shən 
1
a
: a prior action that takes into account or forestalls a later action
hired more security guards in anticipation of a large crowd
b
: the act of looking forward
especially
: pleasurable expectation
looked forward with anticipation to their arrival
2
: the use of money before it is available
3
a
: visualization of a future event or state
b
: an object or form that anticipates a later type
4
: the early sounding of one or more tones of a succeeding chord to form a temporary dissonance compare suspension
Examples of anticipation in a Sentence
She had a feeling of great anticipation before her graduation ceremony.
He looked forward to the party with anticipation.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hours before kickoff at Levi's Stadium, the parking lots were already alive with music, barbecue smoke, and a sea of red jerseys as San Francisco 49ers fans soaked in the anticipation of a pivotal late-season matchup against the Chicago Bears.
—
Da Lin, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
Release a new entry every five years or so (to protect the brand and build anticipation the old-fashioned way — waiting).
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 Dec. 2025
In contrast, Take-Two Interactive’s shares continued to climb throughout 2025, as anticipation mounted for the next Grand Theft Auto title.
—Alex Buckmaster, CNBC, 28 Dec. 2025
Instead, the drugs appear to activate networks involved in alertness and the anticipation of pleasure, scientists report in the journal Cell.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 27 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anticipation
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Da Lin, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
Release a new entry every five years or so (to protect the brand and build anticipation the old-fashioned way — waiting).
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 Dec. 2025
In contrast, Take-Two Interactive’s shares continued to climb throughout 2025, as anticipation mounted for the next Grand Theft Auto title.
—Alex Buckmaster, CNBC, 28 Dec. 2025
Instead, the drugs appear to activate networks involved in alertness and the anticipation of pleasure, scientists report in the journal Cell.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 27 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anticipation
Cite this Entry
“Anticipation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anticipation. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
anticipation
noun
an·tic·i·pa·tion
(ˌ)an-ˌtis-ə-ˈpā-shən
1
: an earlier action that takes into account and deals with or prevents a later action
2
: pleasurable expectation
3
: the act of providing for an expected event or state
anticipatory
adjective
an-ˈtis-ə-pə-ˌtōr-ē,
-ˌtȯr-
Medical Definition
anticipation
noun
an·tic·i·pa·tion
(ˌ)an-ˌtis-ə-ˈpā-shən
1
: occurrence (as of a disease or symptom) before the normal or expected time
2
: mental attitude that influences a later response
Legal Definition
anticipation
noun
an·ti·ci·pa·tion
an-ˌti-sə-ˈpā-shən
: the knowledge or use of an invention in the U.S. or the patenting or describing of the invention in a publication in the U.S. or a foreign country before the discovery by a patent applicant
Note: Case law has established that every claim or element of a claim has to be disclosed in the prior art in order for a patent application to be barred by anticipation. If an application is amended to consist of claims not disclosed in the prior art, invalidation by anticipation can be avoided.
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