Definition of "anticipate" []

• To feel or realize beforehand; foresee: hadn't anticipated the crowds at the zoo. (verb-transitive)
• To look forward to, especially with pleasure; expect: anticipated a pleasant hike in the country. (verb-transitive)
• To deal with beforehand; act so as to mitigate, nullify, or prevent: anticipated the storm by boarding up the windows. See Synonyms at expect. (verb-transitive)
• To cause to happen in advance; accelerate. (verb-transitive)
• To use in advance, as income not yet available. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "What one may not so easily anticipate is the proverbial axe falling on a loved one while you stand helplessly by wishing it could be you instead of them but knowing full well that you do not get to make that choice."
• "Yours truly just took this test and scored 84.8% (some of the questions were harder than you might anticipate from a test like this) … and I happen to be a lifelong liberal Democrat!"
• "Use 1 or 2% for increased benefits on those who had higher incomes and the balance to help fund the program ... including reducing debt today in anticipate of the baby boomer crunch."