Anticipate vs Estimate - What's the difference?
anticipate | estimate |
To act before (someone), especially to prevent an action.
to take up or introduce (something) prematurely.
to know of (something) before it happens; to expect.
* {{quote-book, year=1907, author=
, title=The Dust of Conflict
, chapter=31 * {{quote-news, year=2011
, date=October 2
, author=Jonathan Jurejko
, title=Bolton 1 - 5 Chelsea
, work=BBC Sport
But surely they did not anticipate the ease with which their team raced into an almost impregnable half-time lead.}} to eagerly wait for (something)
A rough calculation or guess.
(construction and business) A document (or verbal notification) specifying how much a job will probably cost.
* {{quote-book, year=1928, author=Lawrence R. Bourne
, title=Well Tackled!
, chapter=3 To calculate roughly, often from imperfect data.
* {{quote-book, year=1965, author=Ian Hacking, title=Logic of Statistical Inference, passage=I estimate that I need 400 board feet of lumber to complete a job, and then order 350 because I do not want a surplus, or perhaps order 450 because I do not want to make any subsequent orders.
* '>citation
To judge and form an opinion of the value of, from imperfect data.
* John Locke
* J. C. Shairp
As verbs the difference between anticipate and estimate
is that anticipate is to act before (someone), especially to prevent an action while estimate is to calculate roughly, often from imperfect data.As a noun estimate is
a rough calculation or guess.anticipate
English
Verb
(anticipat)- To anticipate and prevent the duke's purpose. --R. Hall.
- He would probably have died by the hand of the executioner, if indeed the executioner had not been anticipated by the populace. -- .
- The advocate plans to anticipate a part of her argument.
- to anticipate the pleasures of a visit
- to anticipate the evils of life
- Please anticipate a journey of an hour from your house to the airport
citation, passage=The task was more to Appleby's liking than the one he had anticipated , and it was necessary, since the smaller merchants in Cuba and also in parts of Peninsular Spain have no great confidence in bankers, and prefer a packet of golden onzas or a bag of pesetas to the best accredited cheque.}}
citation, page= , passage=And with Bolton suffering a wretched run of five straight home defeats - their worst run in 109 years - Chelsea fans would have been forgiven for expecting a comfortable win.
But surely they did not anticipate the ease with which their team raced into an almost impregnable half-time lead.}}
- Little Johnny started to anticipate the arrival of Santa Claus a week before Christmas.
Usage notes
The words anticipate'' and ''expect'' both regard some future event as likely to take place. Nowadays they are often used interchangeably although ''anticipate is associated with acting because of an expectation. (E.g. skilled sportsmen anticipate the action and position themselves accordingly.)Synonyms
* (to act before someone) preclude * (to take up or introduce something prematurely) * (to know of something before it manifests) expect, foretaste, foresee * (to eagerly await something) look forward toestimate
English
Alternative forms
* (archaic)Noun
(en noun)citation, passage=“They know our boats will stand up to their work,” said Willison, “and that counts for a good deal. A low estimate from us doesn't mean scamped work, but just that we want to keep the yard busy over a slack time.”}}
Synonyms
* estimation * appraisalDerived terms
* ballpark estimateVerb
citation
- It is by the weight of silver, and not the name of the piece, that men estimate commodities and exchange them.
- It is always very difficult to estimate the age in which you are living.
