Await vs They'll expect that
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Await
Top 3,000 (common)C1verb
They'll expect that
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: They'll expect that
| Await | They'll expect that | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈweɪt/","/əˈweɪts/","/əˈweɪtɪd/","/əˈweɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈweɪt/","/əˈweɪts/","/əˈweɪtɪd/","/əˈweɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðeɪl ɪkˈspɛkt ðæt//🇺🇸 //ðeɪl ɪkˈspɛkt ðæt// |
| Meaning | to wait for something or someone | They will think something will happen. |
| Example | He is in custody **awaiting trial**. | They'll expect that you arrive on time for the meeting. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | anxiously, breathlessly, nervously, long awaited | expect that you will, expect that something will, they'll expect that everyone, they'll expect that you, they'll expect that this |
| Antonyms | depart, continue, proceed | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'await' without an object, e.g., 'I await.' should be 'I await your response.', 'Await for' is incorrect; 'await' does not take 'for'., Confusing with 'wait' which is more common in conversation. | Confusing with 'they expect' which is more immediate., Using incorrect tenses, such as 'they'll expected'., Adding unnecessary words, for example, 'they will expect that it will rain.' |
| Usage notes | Used in formal contexts, often in writing. Not typical in casual speech. Don't confuse with 'wait for'—they are similar but 'await' is used without 'for'. | Commonly used in spoken and written English; can be used in both casual and formal contexts. Avoid using in overly formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Await vs They'll expect that
What's the difference between Await and They'll expect that?
Await: to wait for something or someone They'll expect that: They will think something will happen.
Which is more common: Await and They'll expect that?
They'll expect that is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Await: He is in custody **awaiting trial**. They'll expect that: They'll expect that you arrive on time for the meeting.
Can I use Await and They'll expect that interchangeably?
Not always. Await and They'll expect that 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.