adjective
expected
Considered likely to happen or required by convention.
The expected delivery date is printed on your order confirmation.
Etymology
The Latin verb means to await or look out for. Expected describes what people anticipate happening or regard as the normal outcome of accepted conventions.
More examples
- The expected storm never reached our town.
- The train arrives at the expected time.
- Formal clothing is expected at the awards ceremony.
Forms
expected
expectation noun — A belief that something will happen.
unexpected adjective — Not anticipated or considered likely.
Similar words
- anticipated
- Anticipated emphasizes thinking ahead about something before it happens.
- customary
- Customary describes usual practices, not predictions about future events.
- required
- Required makes an obligation explicit rather than merely conventional.