expects - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
expects Word Meanings
- to think something will happen
- to look forward to something
- to consider something likely
expects Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
expects Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ɪkˈspɛkt/
US
/ɪkˈspɛkt/
expects Word Etymology
expect = ex- (out) + spect (look) - from Latin 'exspectare' meaning 'to look out for'. Imagine waiting eagerly at a train station, looking out for the arrival of a loved one or a long-awaited event.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
First I set my shoulders and push open the door a crack. The street noise slips in, and I watch a bus come into view, its tires marking the pavement. I keep steady, adjust my stance, and tell myself to stay hopeful. In that small moment I realize I expect the bus to arrive before it starts to rain, and the feeling of anticipation settles like a weight I can control.
Real Context
Expect means to think something will happen, to look forward to something, or to judge something as likely. In everyday English we say I expect the train to be on time, I expect great things from you, or we expect rain this weekend. The word carries not just belief but an attitude of forward-looking anticipation; it often collocates with to + verb (expect to finish), with that (I expect that ...), or with formal phrases like be expected to. Its Latin roots point to looking out for someone or something, which matches the sense of waiting, watching for an event or a person. When learners confuse it with hope or wait for, accuracy can fade.
Usage Reminders
- Use expect with to + verb to talk about future actions.
- You can use be expected to for predictions or duties.
- Compare with hope to express different levels of certainty.
- Be aware that wait for emphasizes the event itself, not the anticipation.
- Be careful with be expected to in formal contexts or reports.
Common Misconceptions
- Confusing expect with hope; hope expresses desire with less certainty.
- Thinking expect means a guarantee; it often expresses probability, not certainty.
- Assuming be expected to equals a plan; it can reflect general expectations or duties.
- Using wait for as a synonym; wait for emphasizes the event itself, not the anticipation.
- Misplacing it with intend; expect and intend convey different certainty and intent.
Thinking Differences
Think like a learner: English speakers often distinguish expect from hope by certainty; learners may overstate or understate probability, or default to hope when predicting events.
Learning Tips
- Notice the to + verb pattern after expect.
- Use be expected to for future predictions or duties.
- Differentiate expect from hope: expect implies probability.
- Be mindful of be expected to in formal contexts.
- Practice with everyday predictions to build confidence.
- Combine expect with that-clauses for emphasis.
Related Listening
🔥 Advanced
Want to practice more words?
Download LexiTalk app for personalized learning experience
Download App