expectation noun

ADJ. great, high | low Many children start with low expectations. | growing, rising | heightened, increased Heightened expectations for educational progress had not been realized. | lowered | optimistic, positive | negative, pessimistic | normal The plaintiff is aged 30 and has a normal expectation of life. | clear, confident | legitimate (law), reasonable | false, naive, over-high, over-optimistic, unrealistic, unreasonable | disappointed There were disappointed expectations all round when the contents of his will became known. | wild This realization of our dreams surpassed even our wildest expectations. | future | general, widespread There is still a general expectation that married couples will have children. | popular, public | traditional | family, parental, social, teacher | market | economic | career, life

VERB + EXPECTATION have, hold You have unrealistic expectations. differences in the expectations held by different social groups | form the way in which expectations are formed | arouse, build up, create, raise, set up the high expectations aroused by civil rights legislation | heighten | lower, reduce Her approach to welfare sought to lower people's expectations and impose work discipline. | influence, shape trying to influence public expectations of the police | come/live up to, fulfil, match, meet, realize, satisfy Her new car has not lived up to her expectations. | exceed, go beyond, surpass | fall short of The reality of the holiday fell short of our expectations. | confound The rise in share price confounded expectations.

EXPECTATION + VERB rise, soar Once the government's promise was made, popular expectations soared.

PREP. against ~ Against all expectations, she was enjoying herself. | contrary to ~ The building work was completed on time, contrary to expectation. | below ~ What should you do when an employee's performance is disappointing and below expectation? | beyond ~ The scheme has produced results way beyond expectation. He had been successful beyond his expectations. | in the ~ of/that The article was written before the election result in the clear expectation of a Labour victory. | ~ about the government's expectations about the economy | ~ for We have high expectations for her future. | ~ of We certainly had a reasonable expectation of success.

PHRASES have every expectation I have every expectation of cheering the team on to victory in the final. | in line with expectations The various categories of operating expenditure are broadly in line with expectations.

You can also check other dicts: expectation (English, 中文解释 ), wordnet sense, Collins Definition

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