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# expect

verb (expect, expects, expected, expecting)

«expect» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To think or believe that something will happen: I expect it will rain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/expect/#m1)
2. To wait for someone or something that should arrive: we are expecting visitors. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/expect/#m2)
3. To think someone should do something because it is right or their duty: teachers expect us to listen. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/expect/#m3)
4. "Expecting (a baby)" means pregnant. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/expect/#m4)
5. In British speech, "I expect" can mean "I suppose": I expect you're hungry. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/expect/#m5)

### In the lessons

In maths and science, we "expect" a result before an experiment (a prediction), then compare with what really happened; in probability, if you flip a coin 10 times, you expect about 5 heads, though it may not be exactly 5. In everyday life and school, rules say what is expected of us. In stories, surprises happen when the unexpected occurs. Phrases: "expect to", "as expected", "more than expected", "what do you expect?", "expected of you", "unexpected".

### Examples

- I expect it will be sunny tomorrow. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/expect/#x1)
- We are expecting Grandma at six o'clock. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/expect/#x2)
- What do you expect will happen when we add the vinegar? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/expect/#x3)
- The results were just as we expected. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/expect/#x4)
- My teacher expects us to hand homework in on time. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/expect/#x5)
- I didn't expect so many people to come! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/expect/#x6)
- Roll a dice 60 times and you'd expect about 10 sixes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/expect/#x7)
- Aunt Sue is expecting a baby in spring. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/expect/#x8)
- It is just what I expected. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/expect/#x9)

### Note

Regular verb: expected, expecting. Nouns: expectation; adjective: unexpected (surprising). "Expect" vs "wait": you wait for a bus; you expect it to come at 3. In maths problems, "expected" usually means predicted, not certain: "expect about 5" does not mean exactly 5.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «expect» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/expect/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«expect» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/expect.html) on Mova free.