Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

expectant

/ɪkˈspɛktənt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.95 in modern English

Syllables: ex-pec-tant
IPA: /ɪkˈspɛktənt/

20

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Marked by expectation.

adj

adj

Awaiting the effects of nature, with little active treatment.

Dated

adj

A triage classification for a patient in a mass casualty event with injuries so severe they are unlikely to survive even with maximum medical care.

noun

A person who expects or awaits something.

Example Sentences

"the expectant hush before the performance"
"an expectant mother"
"After seeing all the beautiful little wardrobe of the mother expectant, praising her delicate needlework, and inwardly regretting their own inability to add to it, they got a hearty lunch, intended for a dinner, and returned homewards,..."
"do you agree the patient is expectant, or is there something we can do to save her?"

Etymology

From Old French expectant, from Latin expectans.

Origin

Source language: Old French

Word Breakdown

Root: expectant, expectans

Usage

Dated

Inflected Forms

more expectant (comparative) most expectant (superlative) expectants (plural)

Derived Forms

expectancy expectantly inexpectant overexpectant unexpectant

Synonyms

big enceinte gravid great large heavy with child anticipant anticipative

Rhymes With

disinfectant

Questions

How do you pronounce expectant?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɪkˈspɛktənt/.
What does expectant mean?: Marked by expectation.
Where does expectant come from?: It is traced to Old French.

How to pronounce expectant

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “expectant”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɪkˈspɛktənt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “expectant”.
Repeat and practice — Say “expectant” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.