expecting

Everyday

1. (euphemism) pregnant, going to have a baby. tree →
2. waiting for something you think will come or happen: «I'm expecting a parcel». tree →
3. thinking something will probably happen: «we're expecting rain». tree →

In the lessons

Used in place of the plainer «pregnant», which some people once felt was too blunt; polite and everyday, all regions, very common in family talk and gossip. In maths and science, «expecting» or «expected» means predicted: «the expected answer».

Examples

• My aunt is expecting, so I'm going to be a cousin! tree →
• They announced they were expecting their second child. tree →
• Is she expecting? She's been looking a bit tired. tree →
• We're expecting twins in the autumn. tree →
• I'm expecting a call from the dentist. tree →
• The weather forecasters are expecting heavy snow tonight. tree →
• The teacher was expecting the answer to be 24. tree →
• "Expecting what?" asked Tom, who didn't understand the grown-ups. tree →
• We're expecting a bridegroom, but the confounded fellow has disappeared." tree →

Note

Trap: «she is expecting» with no object means she is going to have a baby; «she is expecting a letter» means waiting. Don't guess the meaning without the object. Plain word: pregnant. In a word problem «expected» means the predicted number.