The meaning of EXPECTATION is the act or state of expecting : anticipation. How to use expectation in a sentence.

She could never measure up to her mother's expectations. The company's results are in line with stock market expectations. The success of our campaign has exceeded our expectations. The concert was …

[countable, usually plural] a strong belief about the way something should happen or how somebody should behave Unfortunately the new software has failed to meet expectations. expectations of …

A person's expectations are strong beliefs which they have about the proper way someone should behave or something should happen.

1. the act or the state of expecting; anticipation. 2. something expected. 3. Often, expectations. a prospect of future benefit or fortune: to have great expectations. 4. the degree of probability that …

Jan 8, 2026 · Job finding expectations declined to a series low—the second series low for the measure in six months—while job loss expectations also worsened. Spending and household income growth …

To have every expectation of something is to feel very sure that it will happen. We're living in a time of diminished/rising expectations.