From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishexpectantex‧pec‧tant /ɪkˈspektənt/ adjective [usually before noun]1WAIThopeful that something good or exciting will happen, or showing this
a row of expectant faces2 →expectant mother/father —expectantly adverb
He looked expectantly at Sarah, but she didn’t speak.Examples from the Corpusexpectant• The darkenedassembly room became suddenly hushed and expectant as the picture appeared on the screen.• The darkened assembly room became suddenly hushed and expectant as the picture on the screen changed.• Expectantcrowdswaitedoutside the theatre.• Mikeraised a resigned hand in farewell, and turned towards an expectant cyclo boy.• The children were looking at the gifts with expectantexpressions.• Brightexpectant faces were turned upward toward the stage.• I felt their arms on my shoulders and their ripe, expectant, human faces very close to mine.• There is an expectant market, eager for the new products and westernbrands.• There are expectantmiaows when tin-opener noises are detected and irritated miaows when some fixedroutine has been disregarded.• She helps adults, including expectantparents, find ways to repair the traumas they may have suffered as children.
