May 12, 2026 · expect, hope, look mean to await some occurrence or outcome. expect implies a high degree of certainty and usually involves the idea of preparing or envisioning. to think or believe something will happen, or someone will arrive: 2. normal and what usually…. To expect is to look forward to the likely occurrence or appearance of someone or something: "We should not expect something for nothing—but we all do and call it Hope" (Edgar W. Expect is a verb that refers to anticipating or looking forward to something happening in the future, either based on previous experiences, beliefs, or logical reasoning. Expect is pronounced /ɪkˈspekt/ and functions as a transitive verb. The Expect meaning in English is: to think or believe something will happen, or someone will arrive. expect definition: wait for or await. Check meanings, examples, usage tips, pronunciation, domains, and related words.