anticipatory
adjective
an·tic·i·pa·to·ry
an-ˈti-sə-pə-ˌtȯr-ē 
: characterized by anticipation : anticipating
took anticipatory measures to prevent floods
Examples of anticipatory in a Sentence
couldn't control his anticipatory excitement on Christmas morning
Recent Examples on the Web
Haq said the agency is also preparing to deliver anticipatory electronic money distributions totaling $900,000 to meet urgent humanitarian needs for about 45,000 people.
—
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
The late Christopher Gray once wrote about the anticipatory destruction of the Cherokee Club, a sweet building from 1890 that was taken down in the late 1970s.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 23 Oct. 2025
The 49ers’ system is big on anticipatory throws which require the quarterback to throw to a spot and trust the receiver to be there.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
The morning of the show, the dressing room is ripe with anticipatory energy.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anticipatory
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Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
The late Christopher Gray once wrote about the anticipatory destruction of the Cherokee Club, a sweet building from 1890 that was taken down in the late 1970s.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 23 Oct. 2025
The 49ers’ system is big on anticipatory throws which require the quarterback to throw to a spot and trust the receiver to be there.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
The morning of the show, the dressing room is ripe with anticipatory energy.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anticipatory
Cite this Entry
“Anticipatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anticipatory. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
anticipatory
adjective
an·tic·i·pa·tory
an-ˈti-sə-pə-ˌtōr-ē
: of or relating to a prior action that takes into account or forestalls a later action
an anticipatory challenge brought for declaratory and injunctive relief—L. H. Tribe
L. H. Tribe
anticipatorily
adverb
-ˌti-sə-pə-ˈtōr-ə-lē
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