Expect Meaning
Expect Definition & Usage
To look forward to something with a sense of certainty or belief that it will happen.
Examples
- "She expects to receive her promotion next month."
- "I expect the weather to be better tomorrow."
- "He expects his team to win the championship this year."
- "The children expect their gifts to arrive on Christmas morning."
- "They expect a response from the company within two weeks."
To require or demand something from someone, typically because of a particular situation or arrangement.
Examples
- "The teacher expects her students to submit the assignment by Friday."
- "He expects you to follow the rules during the meeting."
- "Parents expect their children to be home by 10 PM."
- "The company expects all employees to meet performance goals."
- "The police expect cooperation from the public during the investigation."
To predict or foresee an event, usually something surprising or unwelcome.
Examples
- "I didn’t expect the meeting to run so long."
- "They didn’t expect the car to break down during their trip."
- "She expected the news to be bad, but it was worse than anticipated."
- "The storm arrived earlier than expected."
- "We didn’t expect the restaurant to be so crowded on a weekday."
Cultural Context
The word 'expect' originates from the Latin word 'exspectare,' meaning 'to look out for' or 'to wait for.' It has been a part of English vocabulary for centuries, commonly used in various contexts from casual conversation to formal settings.
The Unexpected Turn of Events
Story
The Unexpected Turn of Events
It was a crisp morning when Lara arrived at the office, expecting a routine day filled with meetings and reports. She had been preparing for the annual presentation, confident that everything would go smoothly. The project had been in development for months, and she had meticulously planned every detail. As she walked into the conference room, she was greeted by her colleagues, who, like her, were expecting a successful outcome. But as the meeting began, something unexpected happened. Just as Lara was about to present the project’s final slide, her phone buzzed with an urgent message from her supplier: 'We can't deliver the materials as promised.' Lara paused, her mind racing. She had expected the meeting to be the highlight of her week, but now it was at risk of unraveling in front of her eyes. 'What do you mean you can't deliver?' she typed back, trying to keep her composure. Her manager, David, noticed the tension and asked, 'Lara, is everything okay?' Lara forced a smile and replied, 'I'm sure we can work it out. I wasn't expecting this, but it's not a problem we can't handle.' The rest of the meeting proceeded with a sense of unease. David, who always expected the best from his team, seemed frustrated by the news. But Lara, while still shocked, managed to calm the group. They expected results, and she was determined to deliver. After the meeting, she called her supplier to negotiate a new timeline, reassuring them that they would find a solution. In the end, the situation worked out better than expected, but Lara learned an important lesson. No matter how prepared you are, things don't always go as expected. But how you respond to the unexpected is what truly matters.
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