expectancy
What's likely ahead
Expectancy is the state of expecting or anticipating something, often with eagerness: There was a sense of expectancy in the air as the curtain rose.
It also refers to statistical likelihood, especially in life expectancy—the average number of years a person can expect to live.
The word carries more formality than expectation and often suggests hopeful waiting.
Chance something will occur
- oddsLikelihood expressed numerically
- chanceLikelihood of occurrence
- probabilityQuantified chance of occurrence
- predictionForecast of coming events
forecast · estimation · projection · statistics · risk · modeling · inference · calculation
Calm during delays
- delayEnforced waiting period
- queueOrdered waiting line
- countdownBackward enumeration to zero
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
standby · pause · intermission · holdup · postponement · hesitation · vigil · anticipation
Intense willingness to act
- excitementState of eager enthusiasm
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
- curiosityDesire to learn
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
foreboding · trepidation · anxiety · premonition · impatience · alertness · readiness · enthusiasm
Strong desire for achievement
- optimismTendency to expect good
- faithTrust without proof
- desireIntense wanting
- dreamSleeping mind's narrative
wish · ambition · confidence · trust · yearning · longing · belief · prospect
Carrying offspring in womb
- trimesterThirteen-week span
- ultrasoundInaudible high-frequency waves
- maternityState of being pregnant
- prenatalBefore birth
motherhood · due date · pregnant · obstetrics · midwife · conception · fetus · embryo
likelihood
Chance something will occur
- oddsLikelihood expressed numerically
- chanceLikelihood of occurrence
- probabilityQuantified chance of occurrence
prediction · forecast · estimation · projection · statistics · risk · modeling · inference · calculation · prospectus
patience
Calm during delays
suspense · standby · pause · intermission · holdup · postponement · hesitation · vigil · anticipation · bated breath
eagerness
Intense willingness to act
- excitementState of eager enthusiasm
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
- curiosityDesire to learn
apprehension · foreboding · trepidation · anxiety · premonition · impatience · alertness · readiness · enthusiasm · interest
aspiration
Strong desire for achievement
dream · wish · ambition · confidence · trust · yearning · longing · belief · prospect · promise
gestation
Carrying offspring in womb
- trimesterThirteen-week span
- ultrasoundInaudible high-frequency waves
- maternityState of being pregnant
prenatal · motherhood · due date · pregnant · obstetrics · midwife · conception · fetus · embryo · birth
- anticipationanticipating, awaiting, waiting, suspense, eagerness
- expectationsanticipate, await, anticipation, outlook, prospects
- hopehopefulness, optimism, anticipation, wish, aspiration
- ambitionaspire, ambition, aspiration, goal, strive
- appetizersmozzarella sticks, canapes, bruschetta, buffalo wings, nachos
- delaysdelays, delay, delayed, postponement, postpone
expectancyhopelessness
State without hope
despair · desperation · discouragement · despondency · resignation
expectancysurprise
Unexpected event causing astonishment
unexpectedness · shock · astonishment · unpredictability · disbelief
expectancyretrospection
Contemplating past events
hindsight · reflection · reminiscence · acceptance · contentment
- life expectancyAverage anticipated survival duration
- expectant parents
- expectant fatherMan awaiting offspring's arrival
- life expectanciesPredicted years of survival
- life expectancy gapDifference in projected lifespans