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expectation
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/ˌekspekˈteɪʃ(ə)n/ 
| singular | expectation |
| plural | expectations |
- 1[countable/uncountable] the belief that something will happenexpectation of:
The team set off without any expectation of success.
in expectation of:His associate had given the information in expectation of a reduced penalty.
contrary to/against (all/someone’s) expectations (=although something was not what you expected):Contrary to her expectations, Caroline found the show very entertaining.
in line with expectations (=the same as people expected):The rise in inflation is broadly in line with expectations.
- 2[countable] [usually plural] a belief that something should happen in a particular way, or that someone or something should have particular qualities or behaviour
Mark and Susie went into marriage with very different expectations.
The two teachers have different expectations of their students.
exceed/surpass someone’s expectations (=be better than someone expected):The success of the product has exceeded all our expectations.
beyond (all) expectations (=much better than expected):The team has performed beyond all expectations.
have high/low expectations (=expect something to be very good or very bad):parents with high expectations of their children
come up to/live up to/meet someone’s expectations (=be as good as someone expected):We had heard so much about the restaurant, but it did not live up to our expectations.
This is the British English definition of expectation. View American English definition of expectation.
Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.
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