WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ex•pect•ant /ɪkˈspɛktənt/USA pronunciation
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- having or marked by expectations: an expectant audience.
- [before a noun] pregnant: an expectant mother.
ex•pect•ant
(ik spek′tənt),USA pronunciation adj.
n.
ex•pect′ant•ly, adv.
- having expectations;
expecting:an excited, expectant audience. - pregnant;
expecting:an expectant mother. - characterized by expectations:an expectant attitude.
- in expectation;
expected;
prospective:an expectant fortune.
n.
- a person who expects or who waits in expectation.
- Latin expectant- (stem of expectāns), present participle of expectāre to expect; see -ant
- Middle English 1350–1400
'expectantly' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):