anticipatory

adjective

an-ˈti-sə-pə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce anticipatory (audio)
Definition of anticipatorynext
as in watchful
having or showing signs of eagerly awaiting something couldn't control his anticipatory excitement on Christmas morning

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of anticipatory That mantra has become the anticipatory soundtrack to Crow-Armstrong’s greatest moments as a Cub. — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026 Why shouldn’t the anticipatory pleasure of lines contribute to the experience? — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026 Shapiro remembers the moment the anticipatory grief set in, years before the loss itself. — Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026 The Vikings loved his length, speed and anticipatory skills of this tone-setter. — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for anticipatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anticipatory
  1. watchful
  2. expectant
  3. enthusiastic
  4. eager
  5. anxious
Adjective
  • While CIOs and CTOs have been keeping a watchful eye on rogue AI agents from OpenAI, Anthropic, and other major AI labs, within enterprises, the bet on these autonomous systems is only getting bigger.
    — John Kell, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Corie Walsh, 40, the Illinois mother accused of killing her 2-year-old son Barrett, entered a not guilty plea under the watchful eye of her husband, whom she is accused of attempting to poison.
    — Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of watchful
Adjective
  • The crowds outside a major fashion show often start to form a few hours in advance, with expectant fans hoping to spot their favorite celebrities.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 28 Sep. 2026
  • English also included a selfie of the expectant parents, who got engaged in December, with smiles on their faces.
    — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of expectant
Adjective
  • Another enthusiastic response at the summit came from Vermont, formerly home to the 650 MW Vermont-Yankee Nuclear Power Plant, which closed in 2014.
    — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026
  • But while an enthusiastic and wider-than-ever audience may be listening now, the Grammys have long appeared inured to such outside influence.
    — Leila Cobo, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of enthusiastic
Adjective
  • The service Everyone on staff is friendly and eager to assist.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Data center builders, semiconductor companies, power providers and cybersecurity firms are far less constrained, according to Cramer, because lenders remain eager to finance their growth.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of eager
Adjective
  • As in the thriller, anxious local leaders debated whether publicizing the peril would scare off tourists.
    — Bob Drogin, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Because of these risks, many conservation groups and lawmakers are anxious to see permanent protections.
    — Christiana Freitag, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of anxious

Browse Nearby Words

anticipations
anticipatory
anticlimactic
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Cite this Entry

“Anticipatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anticipatory. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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