Cool MateExpect vs They will look for his coming
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Expect
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
They will look for his coming
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Expect
| Expect | They will look for his coming | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈspekt/","/ɪkˈspekts/","/ɪkˈspektɪd/","/ɪkˈspektɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈspekt/","/ɪkˈspekts/","/ɪkˈspektɪd/","/ɪkˈspektɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðeɪ wɪl lʊk fɔː hɪz ˈkʌmɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ðeɪ wɪl lʊk fɔr hɪz ˈkʌmɪŋ// |
| Meaning | To believe something will happen. | They will wait to see him arrive. |
| Example | I expect to receive my package by Friday. | They will look for his coming at the airport. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | confidently, fully, rightly, be fair to, be natural to, be reasonable to, from, as expected, (only) to be expected, be widely expected, confidently, fully, rightly, be fair to, be natural to, be reasonable to, from, as expected, (only) to be expected, be widely expected | look for answers, look for opportunities, look for support |
| Antonyms | doubt, disregard, ignore | ignore, overlook |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'hope' - 'expect' is more certain than 'hope'., Using 'expect' without an object - remember it often needs a person or thing., Misplacing the infinitive after 'expect' - make sure to use 'to + verb'. | Confusing with 'look forward to' which indicates excitement., Using 'look for' with a place instead of a person., Forgetting to use future tense properly. |
| Usage notes | Use 'expect' in both spoken and written English. It's neutral, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Avoid using it with uncertain outcomes. | Use in contexts where people are expecting someone. Avoid in very formal situations or when discussing something unrelated to arrival. |
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Frequently asked questions: Expect vs They will look for his coming
What's the difference between Expect and They will look for his coming?
Expect: To believe something will happen. They will look for his coming: They will wait to see him arrive.
Which is more common: Expect and They will look for his coming?
Expect is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Expect: I expect to receive my package by Friday. They will look for his coming: They will look for his coming at the airport.
Can I use Expect and They will look for his coming interchangeably?
Not always. Expect and They will look for his coming 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.