Cool MateAnticipate vs Looking forward to it
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Anticipate
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Looking forward to it
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: AnticipateMost common: Anticipate
| Anticipate | Looking forward to it | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ænˈtɪsɪpeɪt//🇺🇸 //ænˈtɪsɪpeɪt// | 🇬🇧 //ˈlʊkɪŋ ˈfɔːwəd tə ɪt//🇺🇸 //ˈlʊkɪŋ ˈfɔrˌwɜrd tə ɪt// |
| Meaning | To expect or look forward to something happening. | Excited about something that will happen in the future. |
| Example | We anticipate a rise in sales this quarter. | I'm really looking forward to it when we finally meet! |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | anticipate changes, anticipate problems, anticipate future trends | looking forward to seeing you, looking forward to hearing from you, looking forward to the weekend, looking forward to the meeting, looking forward to the concert |
| Antonyms | dread, disregard, ignore | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'expect' – 'anticipate' implies preparation., Using 'anticipate' without an object – it should always have something anticipated. | Omitting 'to': Saying 'looking forward it' instead of 'looking forward to it'., Confusing with 'look forward for' which is incorrect. |
| Usage notes | Use 'anticipate' to express expectation about future events or actions. Avoid for casual conversations. | Use in informal contexts to express anticipation. Avoid in very formal writing or settings. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Anticipate vs Looking forward to it
What's the difference between Anticipate and Looking forward to it?
Anticipate: To expect or look forward to something happening. Looking forward to it: Excited about something that will happen in the future.
Which is more formal: Anticipate and Looking forward to it?
Anticipate is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Anticipate and Looking forward to it?
Anticipate is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Anticipate: We anticipate a rise in sales this quarter. Looking forward to it: I'm really looking forward to it when we finally meet!
Can I use Anticipate and Looking forward to it interchangeably?
Not always. Anticipate and Looking forward to it are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.