expect

expect

ex·pect [expect expects expected expecting]   [ɪkˈspekt]    [ɪkˈspekt]  verb
1. transitive to think or believe that sth will happen or that sb will do sth
• ~ sth We are expecting a rise in food prices this month.
• ~ sth from sb/sth Don't expect sympathy from me!
• ~ sth of sb/sth That's not the sort of behaviour I expect of you!
• ~ to do sth You can't expect to learn a foreign language in a few months.
• I looked back, half expecting to see someone following me.
• ~ sb/sth to do sth House prices are expected to rise sharply.
• I didn't expect him to become a successful writer.
• Do you really expect me to believe you?
• ~ (that)… Many people were expecting (that) the peace talks would break down.

• it is expected that… It is expected that the report will suggest some major reforms.

2. transitive (often used in the progressive tenses) to be waiting for sb/sth to arrive, as this has been arranged
• ~ sb/sth to expect a visit/call/letter from sb
• Are you expecting visitors?
• We were expecting him yesterday.

• ~ sb to do sth We were expecting him to arrive yesterday.

3. to demand that sb will do sth because it is their duty or responsibility
• ~ sth (from sb) Her parents expected high standards from her.
• He's still getting over his illness, so don't expect too much from him.
• ~ sth (of sb) Are you clear what is expected of you?
• ~ sb to do sth They expected all their children to be high achievers.
• We are expected to work on Saturdays.

• ~ to do sth I expect to be paid promptly for the work.

4. intransitive, transitive (informal, especially BrE) (not used in the progressive tenses) used when you think sth is probably true
• ‘Will you be late?’ ‘ I expect so.’
• ‘Are you going out tonight?’ ‘ I don't expect so.’
• ~ (that…) ‘Who's eaten all the cake?’ ‘Tom, I expect/I expect it was Tom.’  ‘That’ is nearly always left out.
compare  unexpected 
Idioms: expecting a baby ▪ to be expected ▪ what do you expect?
Verb forms:

 
Word Origin:
mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘defer action, wait’): from Latin exspectare ‘look out for’, from ex- ‘out’ + spectare ‘to look’ (frequentative of specere ‘see’).  
Thesaurus:
expect verb
1. T
• They're not expecting to get any money from the government.
think • • look forward to sth • • anticipate • • bargain for/on sth • • look for sth • • look ahead • • watch for sb/sth • |formal await •
expect/think/anticipate that…
It is expected/thought/anticipated that…
expect/look forward to/anticipate/look for/await results
2. T
• They expect their children to be high achievers.
demand • • ask • • insist • • hold out for sth • |formal require • • stipulate •
expect/demand/ask/require sth from sb
expect/demand/ask/insist/require/stipulate that…
expect/ask/require sb to do sth
Expect, demand or ask? Ask is not as strong as expect or demand, both of which can be more like a command.
3. T (especially BrE, spoken)
• I expect he'll be late, as usual.
suppose • • imagine • • suspect • • assume • • presume • |especially spoken take it • |especially BrE, spoken I dare say • |especially AmE, spoken guess •
expect/suppose/imagine/suspect/assume/presume/take it/dare say/guess that…
I expect/suppose/imagine/suspect/assume/presume/guess so. 
Language Bank:
expect
Discussing predictions
▪ The number of people using mobile phones to purchase goods and services is expected ▪ / likely ▪ to more than double by the end of 2015.
▪ Experts have predicted ▪ / forecast ▪ that the number of people using their mobile phones to pay for goods and services should exceed 190 million in 2015.
▪ This figure is set to ▪ reach 200 million by 2016.
By ▪ 2015, 800 million mobile phone users worldwide will ▪ be participating in social networks via their phone.
▪ Sales of mobile phones in 2009 were lower than expected ▪.
▪ The company's announcement of 1.26 billion handsets sold for the year is in line with predictions ▪.
Language Banks at fall, illustrate, increase, proportion  
Synonyms:
demand
require • expect • insist • ask
These words all mean to say that sb should do or have sth.
demand • to ask for sth very firmly; to say very firmly that sb should have or do sth: ▪ She demanded an immediate explanation.
require • [often passive] (rather formal) to make sb do or have sth, especially because it is necessary according to a law or set of rules or standards: ▪ All candidates will be required to take a short test.
expect • to demand that sb should do, have or be sth, especially because it is their duty or responsibility: ▪ I expect to be paid promptly for the work.
insist • to demand that sth happens or that sb agrees to do sth: ▪ I didn't want to go but he insisted. ◊ ▪ We ▪ insist on ▪ the highest standards at all times.
ask • to expect or demand sth: ▪ You're asking too much of him.
demand, expect or ask?
Ask is not as strong as demand or expect, both of which can be more like a command.
to demand/require/expect/ask sth of/from sb
to demand/require/expect/insist/ask that…
to require/expect/ask sb to do sth
to demand/require/expect/ask a lot/too much/a great deal
to be too much to expect/ask 
Example Bank:
• As expected, they lost the election.
• Did you honestly expect me to believe that?
• I didn't really expect them to come.
• I do not necessarily expect an easy answer to this question.
• I think my parents always expected too much of me.
• I was half expecting to see Jim at the concert.
• I would expect the factory to be working again as normal by next week.
• It would be foolish to expect this at his age.
• It would be unreasonable to expect them to do all that work for free.
• My parents fully expect us to get married.
• She confidently expects to win.
• The economy is widely expected to pick up in the first half of next year.
• The wine list is excellent, as is to be expected from such a high-class restaurant.
• They rightly expect to be obeyed.
• This kind of behaviour is to be expected from a two-year-old.
• Was she really naive enough to expect that he had changed?
• We can expect to see an improvement in the weather over the next few days.
• We expect good results from our employees.
• You are entitled to expect certain minimum standards of accommodation.
• You can hardly expect to learn a foreign language in a few months.
• You can't seriously expect me to sympathize with you.
• ‘Are you going out tonight?’ ‘I don't expect so.’
• ‘Will Bill be there?’ ‘I expect so.’
• Are you clear about what is expected of you?
• Don't expect sympathy from me!
• Don't expect too much from him.
• Double the expected number of people came to the meeting.
• Her parents expect high standards from her.
• I didn't expect him to become a successful writer.
• I expect he'll be late, as usual.
• I'm expecting an important call.
• Many people were expecting that the peace talks would break down.

• That's not the sort of behaviour I expect of you.