expectant — having or showing an excited feeling that something is about to happen, especially something pleasant
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: having or showing an excited feeling that something is about to happen, especially something pleasant
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪkˈspektənt/
Example Sentences
- My cat gives me an expectant look every time I open the refrigerator, as if I'm about to serve her a five-star meal.
- The expectant parents spent hours debating whether their baby would be a future Nobel Prize winner or a professional couch potato.
- The students sat in expectant silence, hoping the teacher would announce a surprise pizza party instead of a pop quiz.
expectant
ADJECTIVE[/ɪkˈspektənt/]
having or showing an excited feeling that something is about to happen, especially something pleasant
having or showing an excited feeling that something is about to happen, especially something pleasant
The expectant mother waits as the attendant serves the defendant
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from Latin 'expectare', a compound of 'ex' (out) and 'spectare' (to look or watch). The term originally described the action of looking outward or watching for something, as if gazing out a door awaiting someone's arrival.
Breakdown
ex- (out) + spectare (to watch/look) + -ant (adjective suffix forming present participle adjectives). The root 'spectare' relates to 'specere' (to see or observe).
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My cat gives me an expectant look every time I open the refrigerator, as if I'm about to serve her a five-star meal.”
“The expectant parents spent hours debating whether their baby would be a future Nobel Prize winner or a professional couch potato.”
“The students sat in expectant silence, hoping the teacher would announce a surprise pizza party instead of a pop quiz.”
“The company's expectant investors are waiting for the quarterly results.”
📚Related Words
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