We were filled with joyful expectation.
Source: tatoeba (20511)
Expectation
/ˌɛk.spɛkˈteɪ.ʃən/
Synonyms for "expectation" (165 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (33)
Noun(6 words)
aftertimeafteryearsanticipateanticipationapprehensionapprehensivenessaptitudeaspirationassumptionassuranceassured faithawelessnessbeliefby-and-bycalculationcalmnesscertaintychancecheerful expectationcomposure
Show 5 more words
Verb(1 words)
Adjective(1 words)
constant push
Strong matches (50)
coolnesscourse aheadcrystal balldemanddependencedesigndesiredeterminismdistant futuredoomed hopeduenessentitlednessentitlementeventualityexpectancyfair expectationfair prospectfaithfavorable prospectfervent hope
Verb(1 words)
counting on
Adjective(1 words)
high standard
Related words (82)
insistenceintentionjusticejustifiable expectationliabilitylikelihoodlikelinessmananameritednessmotivenear futurenodding acceptancenonamazednessnonamazementnonastonishmentnonmarvelingnonwondernonwonderingnotionodds
Show 46 more words
offingoutlookposteriorityprayerful hopepredictionpresumptionpresumptive evidenceprobabilismprobabilityprojectpromiseprophecyprospectprospectsreasonable groundreasonable hopereliancerequirementsanguine expectationsecuritysuppositionsurmisesuspensetendencythe futurethe morrowthe sweet by-and-bythoughttime aheadtime just aheadtime to cometomorrowtrustunamazednessunamazementunastonishmentunimpressiblenessunsurpriseunsurprisednessverisimilitudeviewwantwatchfulnesswell-grounded hopewishwonderlessness
Noun(12 words)
likelihoodmeannormoutlookpeer collaboration targetsprojectionprospectsocial normspeak kindlystandard unitswaitwaiting
Adjective(3 words)
material outlooknorwegian standardplanned performance
Determiner(1 words)
no mistakes
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: anticipation, expected value, aftertime, afteryears, anticipate.
- Sentence evidence is available for expectation, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "expectation".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "expectation"
Keep "expectation" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "expectation" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "expectation", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "expectation" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
11 entriesbeliefconceptestimatefeelinghopefulnessmathematical conceptmeanmean valuepredictionstate of mindstatistical concept
More specific
6 entriesCollocations
6 entriesacademic expectationhigh expectationmeet expectationsreasonable expectationset expectationsunmet expectation
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
1 entriesTranslations
37 translations across 26 languages.
Armenian
1 entries- ակնկալիք noun (that which is expected or looked for)
Bulgarian
2 entries- вероятност noun (that which is expected or looked for)
- надежда noun (that which is expected or looked for)
Catalan
1 entries- expectativa noun (that which is expected or looked for)
Chinese Mandarin
2 entries- 期待 noun (that which is expected or looked for)
- 期望 noun (that which is expected or looked for)
Czech
1 entries- očekávání noun (that which is expected or looked for)
Dutch
1 entries- verwachting noun (that which is expected or looked for)
Estonian
1 entries- ootus noun (that which is expected or looked for)
Finnish
1 entries- odotus noun (that which is expected or looked for)
French
1 entries- attente noun (that which is expected or looked for)
German
1 entries- Erwartung noun (that which is expected or looked for)
Greek
1 entries- προσδοκία noun (that which is expected or looked for)
Hindi
1 entries- आकांक्षा noun (that which is expected or looked for)
Indonesian
1 entries- harapan noun (that which is expected or looked for)
Italian
2 entries- aspettativa noun (that which is expected or looked for)
- attese noun (that which is expected or looked for)
Japanese
3 entries- 希望 noun (that which is expected or looked for)
- 心待ち noun (that which is expected or looked for)
- 期待 noun (that which is expected or looked for)
Malay
1 entries- jangkaan noun (that which is expected or looked for)
Māori
1 entries- kawatau noun (that which is expected or looked for)
Polish
1 entries- oczekiwanie noun (that which is expected or looked for)
Portuguese
1 entries- expectativa noun (that which is expected or looked for)
Romanian
3 entries- anticipație noun (that which is expected or looked for)
- așteptat noun (that which is expected or looked for)
- expectativă noun (that which is expected or looked for)
Russian
3 entries- наде́жда noun (that which is expected or looked for)
- ожида́ние noun (that which is expected or looked for)
- ча́яние noun (that which is expected or looked for)
Scottish Gaelic
2 entries- dùil noun (that which is expected or looked for)
- fiughair noun (that which is expected or looked for)
Spanish
1 entries- expectativa noun (that which is expected or looked for)
Swahili
1 entries- tarajio noun (that which is expected or looked for)
Swedish
2 entries- förväntan noun (that which is expected or looked for)
- förväntning noun (that which is expected or looked for)
Ukrainian
1 entries- наді́я noun (that which is expected or looked for)
Sample sentences
16 total sentences available.
We waited with faint expectation.
Source: tatoeba (23131)
It fell short of my expectation.
Source: tatoeba (42374)
It will prove to be up to expectation.
Source: tatoeba (42525)
Showing 4 of 16 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "expectation"?
Closest matches include anticipation, expected value, aftertime, afteryears, anticipate.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "expectation"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.