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Propose vs Anticipate - What's the difference?

propose | anticipate |

In transitive terms the difference between propose and anticipate

is that propose is to intend while anticipate is to act before (someone), especially to prevent an action.

As a noun propose

is an objective or aim.

propose

English

Verb

(propos)
  • To suggest a plan, course of action, etc.
  • To ask for a person's hand in marriage.
  • To intend.
  • * 1859 , (John Gorham Palfrey), History of New England , Preface (Google preview):
  • I propose to relate, in several volumes, the history of the people of New England.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-08-16, author= John Vidal
  • , volume=189, issue=10, page=8, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Dams endanger ecology of Himalayas , passage=Many of the proposed dams would be among the tallest in the world.}}
  • (obsolete) To talk; to converse.
  • * 1599 , (William Shakespeare), (Much Ado About Nothing) , :
  • HERO. Good Margaret, run thee to the parlour;
    There shalt thou find my cousin Beatrice
    Proposing with the prince and Claudio
  • (obsolete) To set forth.
  • * 1616 , (George Chapman) (translator), Homer's Iliad , book 11:
  • . . . so weighty was the cup,
    That being propos'd brimful of wine, one scarce could lift it up.

    Usage notes

    * In use 1. this is sometimes a catenative verb that takes the gerund (-ing) . * In use 3, this is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . * For more information, see * Compared to to suggest'', ''to propose is more deliberate and definite. To suggest is merely to mention, while to propose is to have a definite plan and intention.

    Synonyms

    * (l)

    Derived terms

    * proposal * proposition

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) An objective or aim.
  • *, II.17:
  • *:whose aime hath beene to make us not good and wittie, but wise and learned; She hath attained her propose .
  • Anagrams

    * English reporting verbs ----

    anticipate

    English

    Verb

    (anticipat)
  • To act before (someone), especially to prevent an action.
  • 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. -- .
  • to take up or introduce (something) prematurely.
  • The advocate plans to anticipate a part of her argument.
  • to know of (something) before it happens; to expect.
  • 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
  • * {{quote-book, year=1907, author=
  • , title=The Dust of Conflict , chapter=31 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.}}
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011
  • , date=October 2 , author=Jonathan Jurejko , title=Bolton 1 - 5 Chelsea , work=BBC Sport 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.}}
  • to eagerly wait for (something)
  • 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 to