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
That could cause some anticipatory trades to bunch up on Thursday, the last trading day of the year's first quarter.
—
Elaine Kurtenbach, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024
As a result, every theater seemed to vibrate with an anticipatory energy—and whenever a film connected with the audience, that energy crescendoed into a collective, can-you-believe-we’re-back awe.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2024
This seems to be an anticipatory move by the Red Sox, who need to free up some cap space in order to sign free agent Teoscar Hernandez, who has been linked to Boston since the middle of December.
—Jon Hoefling, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2024
Bangladesh has implemented more anticipatory measures than any other country.
—Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Jan. 2024
The health care system can better equip clinicians to provide anticipatory guidance and education on menstrual health and menstrual disorders.
—Dr. Joanne Armstrong, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2023
Bernstein leaps up, opens the curtains, flings his arms wide, and utters a roar of anticipatory delight, like Tarzan greeting a bright new day in the jungle.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 17 Nov. 2023
According to the principles of responsible research and innovation, science policy should be anticipatory and self-critical, actively seek other viewpoints, and respond to public values.
—Gregory E. Kaebnick, STAT, 15 Sep. 2023
This is called status quo bias or anticipatory obedience.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 9 Sep. 2022
Elaine Kurtenbach, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024
As a result, every theater seemed to vibrate with an anticipatory energy—and whenever a film connected with the audience, that energy crescendoed into a collective, can-you-believe-we’re-back awe.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2024
This seems to be an anticipatory move by the Red Sox, who need to free up some cap space in order to sign free agent Teoscar Hernandez, who has been linked to Boston since the middle of December.
—Jon Hoefling, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2024
Bangladesh has implemented more anticipatory measures than any other country.
—Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Jan. 2024
The health care system can better equip clinicians to provide anticipatory guidance and education on menstrual health and menstrual disorders.
—Dr. Joanne Armstrong, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2023
Bernstein leaps up, opens the curtains, flings his arms wide, and utters a roar of anticipatory delight, like Tarzan greeting a bright new day in the jungle.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 17 Nov. 2023
According to the principles of responsible research and innovation, science policy should be anticipatory and self-critical, actively seek other viewpoints, and respond to public values.
—Gregory E. Kaebnick, STAT, 15 Sep. 2023
This is called status quo bias or anticipatory obedience.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 9 Sep. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'anticipatory.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near anticipatory
Cite this Entry
“Anticipatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anticipatory. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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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