- expectation
- noun (usually expectations)ADJECTIVE▪ big, great, high, lofty (esp. AmE)▪ modest▪
I have modest expectations about what my research can accomplish.
▪ low▪Many children start with low expectations.
▪ growing, rising▪ heightened, increased, raised▪Heightened expectations for educational progress had not been realized.
▪ diminished, lowered▪ optimistic, positive▪ negative, pessimistic▪ normal▪It doesn't conform to people's normal expectations of what a zoo is.
▪ clear, confident▪ legitimate (law), rational, realistic, reasonable▪ false, inflated, naive, unrealistic, unreasonable▪ disappointed, unfulfilled, unmet (esp. AmE)▪Low growth is likely to bring unfulfilled expectations.
▪ wild▪This realization of our dreams surpassed even our wildest expectations.
▪ initial, original▪They've found success far beyond their initial expectations.
▪ prior▪This result is contrary to our prior expectations.
▪ future▪ common, general, widespread▪There is still a general expectation that married couples will have children.
▪ popular, public▪ conventional, traditional▪ family, parental▪ cultural, social, societal (esp. AmE)▪ gender (esp. AmE)▪Religion reinforces traditional gender expectations to varying extents.
▪ consumer, customer▪ market▪ economic, financial, inflation, inflationary▪ earnings▪ career, lifeVERB + EXPECTATION▪ have, hold▪You have unrealistic expectations.
▪differences in the expectations held by different social groups
▪ establish, form▪the way in which expectations are formed
▪ base▪These high expectations are based on the fast pace of technological developments.
▪ arouse, build, build up, create, generate, raise, set, set up▪the high expectations aroused by civil rights legislation
▪ change, revise▪Users have changed their expectations of library services.
▪ heighten▪ lower, reduce, temper (esp. AmE)▪Her approach sought to lower people's expectations.
▪ manage▪Here are some tips to help you manage your expectations for yourself.
▪ influence, shape▪ come up to (esp. BrE), confirm, conform to, fit (esp. AmE), fit in with (esp. AmE), fulfil/fulfill, live up to, match, meet, reach, realize, satisfy▪Her new car has not lived up to her expectations.
▪ beat, exceed, go beyond, surpass▪ disappoint, fall short of▪The reality of the cruise fell short of our expectations.
▪ confound, contradict (esp. AmE), defy, violate (esp. AmE)▪The rise in share price confounded expectations.
▪She has defied all expectations with her career.
EXPECTATION + VERB▪ grow, rise▪ change▪In later years his expectations changed.
PREPOSITION▪ above expectation▪Sales came in above expectations this week.
▪ against expectation▪Against all expectations, she was enjoying herself.
▪ contrary to expectation▪The building work was completed on time, contrary to expectation.
▪ below expectation▪What should you do when an employee's performance is below expectation?
▪ beyond expectation▪The course has produced results way beyond expectation.
▪He had been successful beyond his expectations.
▪ in the expectation of, in the expectation that▪They bought real estate in the expectation of a rise in prices.
▪ expectation about▪the government's expectations about the economy
▪ expectation for▪We have high expectations for her future.
▪ expectation of▪We certainly had a reasonable expectation of success.
▪ expectation regarding, expectation with regard to▪She has high expectations regarding the deal.
▪ expectation surrounding▪the tensions and expectations surrounding the show
PHRASES▪ have every expectation▪I have every expectation of cheering the team on to victory in the final.
▪ in line with expectations▪Profits are broadly in line with expectations.
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
