as in pregnant
containing unborn young within the body
the special nutritional needs of expecting women
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in anticipating
to believe in the future occurrence of (something)
we expect their arrival late this afternoon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of expecting
Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, is expecting her second baby with husband Nicholas Riccio any day.
—Wendy Naugle, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
The soldiers were expecting air cover from the Americans.
—Mo Rocca, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
For audiences expecting a cradle-to-grave reckoning, that cutoff can feel abrupt.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 25 Apr. 2026
Several other Trojans are expecting to hear their names called as the draft continues into the weekend.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
Harding defines kindness as an act of generosity expecting nothing in return.
—Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
Because James Dolan — yes, that James Dolan — is expecting his expensive team to make a run to the NBA Finals.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
The federal government’s spring economic update is April 28 and the following day is the Bank of Canada’s interest-rate announcement, with economists and markets both expecting a hold.
—Christine Dobby, Bloomberg, 24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
This news marks the first time the National Zoo has had an expecting Asian elephant in nearly 25 years.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
Verb
The Arsenal manager invoked a bed of roses and the accompaniment of celestial music and formed an expression to suggest anyone expecting that was evidently disconnected from the reality of a Premier League title race.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, is expecting her second baby with husband Nicholas Riccio any day.
—Wendy Naugle, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
The soldiers were expecting air cover from the Americans.
—Mo Rocca, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
For audiences expecting a cradle-to-grave reckoning, that cutoff can feel abrupt.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 25 Apr. 2026
Several other Trojans are expecting to hear their names called as the draft continues into the weekend.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
Harding defines kindness as an act of generosity expecting nothing in return.
—Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
Because James Dolan — yes, that James Dolan — is expecting his expensive team to make a run to the NBA Finals.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
The federal government’s spring economic update is April 28 and the following day is the Bank of Canada’s interest-rate announcement, with economists and markets both expecting a hold.
—Christine Dobby, Bloomberg, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expecting
Adjective
-
Sandra Birchmore was 23 and pregnant in 2021 when she was allegedly murdered by her married cop boyfriend, Matthew Farwell.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Seth’s girlfriend is pregnant, and the couple’s baby girl is due May 6, James said.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
All of it is encrypted, and some of it could be stored by actors anticipating that current encryption methods may become less effective over time.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Several billionaires have already moved out of the state, anticipating this tax.—
Steve Large,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Room by room, the author takes us through the house, now long gone.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Retaining Hall, 39, keeps one familiar face from Dart’s rookie year on the offensive side of the building for his second NFL season, with Brian Daboll, Mike Kafka and Shea Tierney all long gone.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The incident occurred on the same day as a crowd of Pokémon fans camped outside the store, awaiting the latest trading card drop.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
As he remained held in jail awaiting his sentencing in May, Rodriguez and his attorneys learned that one of the jurors in his case had been arrested after allegedly breaking into a home and stabbing two women inside — three days after the trial ended, per The Daily Herald.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expecting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expecting. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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