expectant
ek-SPEK-tunt
/ɪkˈspɛktənt/
Having or showing an excited feeling that something is about to happen, especially used to describe a woman who is pregnant.
It conveys a sense of waiting and anticipation, often used in the phrase 'expectant mother' or 'expectant parents'.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'expectantem', meaning 'looking out for'. It perfectly describes the state of pregnancy—looking forward to the arrival of a child.
Word relationships
- pregnant: Pregnant is the biological fact; expectant emphasizes the psychological state of waiting.
Commonly confused with
- expecting: 'Expecting' is a verb/participle used as a euphemism ('She is expecting'); 'expectant' is the formal adjective.
Word family
- expectancy (noun): The state of thinking or hoping that something, especially something pleasant, will happen.
- expectantly (adverb): In a way that shows you are waiting for something.
Collocations
- expectant mother
- expectant father
- expectant parents
- expectant silence
Example sentences
- "The expectant couple spent months researching the best car seats and strollers." Social description
- "The expectant mother is the most beautiful thing in the world." Literature
Memory hook
You are 'expecting' a baby, so you are 'expectant'. Waiting with anticipation.
When not to use
While it can mean 'waiting for anything', in modern English, it is almost exclusively associated with pregnancy.
Fun facts
- The phrase 'expectant mother' became a polite euphemism in the Victorian era when the word 'pregnant' was considered too graphic for polite company.
Explore more words
forthcoming, animated, enthusiastic, imminent, suspense, prospect
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