anticipatory

adjective

an·​tic·​i·​pa·​to·​ry an-ˈti-sə-pə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce anticipatory (audio)
: characterized by anticipation : anticipating
took anticipatory measures to prevent floods

Examples of anticipatory in a Sentence

couldn't control his anticipatory excitement on Christmas morning
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Lego Icons Flower Bouquet Building Set Pick up this Lego kit now and save it for Valentine’s Day, upcoming birthdays, or any anticipatory milestone celebrations. Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 25 Dec. 2024 Within five years, a new wave of smart hearing aids will be able to recognize stress, both current and anticipatory. IEEE Spectrum, 1 May 2019 My heartbeat pounded in my ears, drowning out the anticipatory purr of two ambulance engines idling nearby. Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024 Mark Gladwin, the dean of the School of Medicine and who was not an author of the study, emphasized a need to leverage his institution’s capability to provide at-risk patients with anticipatory care. Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 13 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for anticipatory 

Word History

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of anticipatory was in 1664

Dictionary Entries Near anticipatory

Cite this Entry

“Anticipatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anticipatory. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.

Legal Definition

anticipatory

adjective
an·​tic·​i·​pa·​tory an-ˈti-sə-pə-ˌtōr-ē How to pronounce anticipatory (audio)
: of or relating to a prior action that takes into account or forestalls a later action
an anticipatory challenge brought for declaratory and injunctive reliefL. H. Tribe
anticipatorily
-ˌti-sə-pə-ˈtōr-ə-lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on anticipatory

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