# expectations

**Pronunciation:** /ˌɛkspɛkˈteɪʃənz/ · ek-spek-TAY-shunz

**CEFR level:** B1

**Part of speech:** noun

## Meaning

Strong beliefs about what will happen in the future.

## Examples

- Her expectations were that the job would be easy, but it turned out to be very difficult.
- The company's expectations for quarterly profits were not met.
- Despite his parents' expectations, he decided to pursue a career in art instead of medicine.

## Synonyms

- hopes — Desires or wishes for something to happen.
- anticipation — The action of expecting or predicting something.
- prospects — The likely future success or results of something.
- foresight — The ability to predict what will happen or be needed in the future.

## Antonyms

- disappointment — The feeling of sadness or displeasure caused by the non-fulfillment of one's hopes or expectations.
- uncertainty — The state of being unsure or doubtful about future events.

## Common patterns

- expectations of — Beliefs about what will happen concerning a specific person, group, or thing. — The expectations of the investors were that the company would grow rapidly.
- expectations for — Beliefs about what will happen in relation to a specific situation or event. — The expectations for the new policy were that it would improve efficiency.

## Collocations

- high expectations — She had high expectations for her first year of college.
- meet expectations — The product's performance did not meet customer expectations.
- exceed expectations — The team exceeded all expectations with their championship win.
- lower expectations — It's wise to lower your expectations when traveling during peak season.

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