anticipate

/ænˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/

//ænˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"anticipate" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“anticipate” has 14 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #10,646. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#10,646
frequency rank, English
35,202
“A” headwords
14
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To act before (someone), especially to prevent an action.

Key facts for anticipate
PropertyValue
Headwordanticipate
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ænˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/
Letters10
Frequency rank#10,646
Misspellings tracked14
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “anticipate” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). anticipate lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 14 spelling variants around anticipate (IPA /ænˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/), averb. Corpus frequency is #10,646 among 35,202 “A” headwords. Wiktionary lists 4 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 14 likely wrong-spelling variants for anticipate, with forms such as "anitcipate", "annticipate", and "antciipate". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin anticipātus, perfect passive participle of anticipō (“to anticipate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ante- (“before”), + capiō (“to take”, cip- when prefixed) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). See capable. The correct English form is anticipate, spelled A-N-T-I-C-I-P-A-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To act before (someone), especially to prevent an action.
  2. 2
    To take up or introduce (something) prematurely.
  3. 3
    To know of (something) before it happens; to expect.
  4. 4
    To eagerly wait for (something)

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin anticipātus, perfect passive participle of anticipō (“to anticipate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ante- (“before”), + capiō (“to take”, cip- when prefixed) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). See capable.

This word in other languages

anticiparse(Español)anticiper(Français)vorgreifen(Deutsch)antecipar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • anitcipate
  • annticipate
  • antciipate
  • anticcipate
  • anticiapte
  • anticipaet
  • anticipatte
  • anticippate
  • anticiptae
  • anticpiate
  • antiicpate
  • antticipate
  • atnicipate
  • naticipate

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of anticipate - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

anitcipate2annticipate1antciipate2anticcipate1anticiapte2anticipaet2anticipatte1anticippate1
Edit distance from "anticipate"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "anticipate"?
"anticipate" is spelled A-N-T-I-C-I-P-A-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ænˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/.
What does "anticipate" mean?
As a verb, "anticipate" means: To act before (someone), especially to prevent an action.
What are common misspellings of "anticipate"?
Common misspellings include "anitcipate", "annticipate", "antciipate", "anticcipate", "anticiapte". The correct spelling is "anticipate".
How do you pronounce "anticipate"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "anticipate" is /ænˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "anticipate"?
Borrowed from Latin anticipātus, perfect passive participle of anticipō (“to anticipate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ante- (“before”), + capiō (“to take”, cip- when prefixed) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). See capable. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “anticipate”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is A-N-T-I-C-I-P-A-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ænˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list