expectation
What you foresee
Expectation is what you anticipate will happen or what you believe should happen.
You can have expectations about outcomes (The movie didn't live up to expectations) or about behavior (There are certain expectations that come with the job).
Expectations may be realistic or unrealistic, and they shape how we experience what actually occurs—met expectations satisfy, exceeded ones delight, and unmet ones disappoint.
Prediction of future conditions
- prognosisPredicted disease course
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- estimationApproximate value judgment
- calculationMathematical problem-solving process
conjecture · speculation · extrapolation · foresight · presumption · surmise · guesswork · probability
Remaining in expectation
- outlookAttitude toward the future
- prospectPotential client or opportunity
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- preparationArranging things in advance
readiness · foreseeing · visualization · envisioning · suspense · buildup · countdown · excitement
Desire for achievement
- dreamSleeping mind's narrative
- goalDesired end result
- hopeDesire for good outcomes
- aimPurpose or direction
desire · wish · yearning · longing · vision · target · milestone · ideal
Standard for comparison
- criterionStandard for judgment
- normAccepted behavioral standard
- baselineStandard for comparison
- yardstickThirty-six-inch ruler
guideline · specification · requirement · protocol · convention · threshold · bar · measure
Pressure, mental or vocal
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- burdenOppressive weight or duty
- strainExcessive stretching force
- obligationRequired task or commitment
demand · compulsion · constraint · tension · weight · onus · responsibility · requirement
Failure to satisfy expectations
- dismayDistressed loss of courage
- disillusionmentBitter loss of faith
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
- discouragementLoss of confidence
dissatisfaction · unmet · dashed · shattered · crushed · unfulfilled · deflated · heartbreak
When payment is required
- gestationCarrying offspring in womb
- prenatalBefore birth
- maternityState of being pregnant
- baby showerPre-birth gift gathering
trimester · ultrasound · anticipating · motherhood · fatherhood · parenthood · nursery · delivery
forecast
Prediction of future conditions
- prognosisPredicted disease course
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- estimationApproximate value judgment
calculation · conjecture · speculation · extrapolation · foresight · presumption · surmise · guesswork · probability · likelihood
waiting
Remaining in expectation
- outlookAttitude toward the future
- prospectPotential client or opportunity
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
preparation · readiness · foreseeing · visualization · envisioning · suspense · buildup · countdown · excitement · eagerness
ambition
Desire for achievement
aim · desire · wish · yearning · longing · vision · target · milestone · ideal · pursuit
benchmark
Standard for comparison
yardstick · guideline · specification · requirement · protocol · convention · threshold · bar · measure · quality
stress
Pressure, mental or vocal
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- burdenOppressive weight or duty
- strainExcessive stretching force
obligation · demand · compulsion · constraint · tension · weight · onus · responsibility · requirement · imposed
letdown
Failure to satisfy expectations
- dismayDistressed loss of courage
- disillusionmentBitter loss of faith
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
discouragement · dissatisfaction · unmet · dashed · shattered · crushed · unfulfilled · deflated · heartbreak · regret
due date
When payment is required
baby shower · trimester · ultrasound · anticipating · motherhood · fatherhood · parenthood · nursery · delivery
- dutiesduty, task, obligation, moral obligation, responsibility
- normsnorm, norms, standard, social norms, rule
- public opinionpublic opinion, public sentiment, polls, poll, approval
- social obligationscourtesy, politeness, greeting, obligation, thank you
- probabilityprobability, chance, random, randomness, odds
- anticipationanticipating, awaiting, waiting, suspense, eagerness
expectationretrospect
Reflection on past events
recollection · remembrance · memory · hindsight · reflection
expectationdoubt
Lack of firm belief
uncertainty · distrust · skepticism · disbelief · surprise
expectationdespair
Total absence of hope
hopelessness · discouragement · resignation · defeatism · pessimism
- low expectationsAnticipating poor outcomes
- clear expectations
- exceed expectations
- social expectationsUnspoken behavioral standards
- family expectationsKin's imposed standards
- parental expectationsStandards set by guardians