expect

/ɪkˈspɛkt/

//ɪkˈspɛkt// verb

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

"expect" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“expect” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #1,050 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#1,050
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
16
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To predict or believe that something will happen

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

expect vs expel
67% similar
expect vs expert
83% similar
expect vs extent
67% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for expect
PropertyValue
Headwordexpect
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɪkˈspɛkt/
Letters6
Frequency rank#1,050
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs16
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “expect” 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). expect lands here:

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

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

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for expect is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪkˈspɛkt/. Corpus data places it at rank #1,050 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for expect, with forms such as "epxect", "exepct", and "expcet". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 16 confusable-pair relationships, "expel", "expert", "extent", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin expectāre, infinitive form of exspectō (“look out for, await, expect”), from ex (“out”) + spectō (“look at”), frequentative of speciō (“see”). The correct English form is expect, spelled E-X-P-E-C-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    To predict or believe that something will happen
  2. 2
    To consider obligatory or required.
  3. 3
    To consider reasonably due.
  4. 4
    To be pregnant, to consider a baby due.
  5. 5
    To wait for; to await.
  6. 6
    To wait; to stay.

Etymology

From Latin expectāre, infinitive form of exspectō (“look out for, await, expect”), from ex (“out”) + spectō (“look at”), frequentative of speciō (“see”).

This word in other languages

esperar(Español)attendre(Français)erwarten(Deutsch)esperar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: epxect,exepct,expcet,expecct,expectt,expetc,exppect,exxpect,xepect

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of expect - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

epxect2exepct2expcet2expecct1expectt1expetc2exppect1exxpect1
Edit distance from "expect"

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 "expect"?
"expect" is spelled E-X-P-E-C-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪkˈspɛkt/.
What does "expect" mean?
As a verb, "expect" means: To predict or believe that something will happen
What words are commonly confused with "expect"?
"expect" is commonly confused with "expel", "expert", "extent". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "expect"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "expect" is /ɪkˈspɛkt/. 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 "expect"?
From Latin expectāre, infinitive form of exspectō (“look out for, await, expect”), from ex (“out”) + spectō (“look at”), frequentative of speciō (“see”). 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 “expect”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is E-X-P-E-C-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɪkˈspɛkt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “expel” - see the side-by-side comparison. expect vs expel
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
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 FrequencyWords open word-frequency list