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to realize beforehand; foretaste or foresee:
to anticipate pleasure.
to expect; look forward to; be sure of:
to anticipate a favorable decision.
to perform (an action) before another has had time to act.
to answer (a question), obey (a command), or satisfy (a request) before it is made:
He anticipated each of my orders.
to nullify, prevent, or forestall by taking countermeasures in advance:
to anticipate a military attack.
to consider or mention before the proper time:
to anticipate more difficult questions.
to be before (another) in doing, thinking, achieving, etc.:
Many modern inventions were anticipated by Leonardo da Vinci.
Finance.

to expend (funds) before they are legitimately available for use.
to discharge (an obligation) before it is due.

to think, speak, act, or feel an emotional response in advance.
Contemporary Examples

I think he needs to anticipate what the criticisms from Romney are and have a handful of responses in his back pocket.
What Romney and Obama Can Learn About the Art of Debate Deflection David Freedlander October 1, 2012

Obama said in terms of the pace of withdrawal, he did not anticipate any sudden changes to the plan devised with NATO.
President Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron Share a Symbolic Make-Nice Moment Eleanor Clift March 13, 2012

The media has come to anticipate fantastical sets, not to mention generous ticket allocations, at the Louis Vuitton shows.
Nicolas Ghesquière Named Artistic Director at Louis Vuitton Alice Cavanagh November 3, 2013

Yet, let us anticipate the argument that traitors might draw up.
What Kind of Patriot Are You? 9 Fourth of July Books for Different Viewpoints The Daily Beast July 1, 2012

You should anticipate that as we get more information, our teams will provide you briefings.
Full Text and Video of President Obama’s Statement on Boston Marathon Bombing Justin Green April 14, 2013

Historical Examples

“I do not anticipate much difficulty as to that,” answered the professor.
With Airship and Submarine Harry Collingwood

She was distrustful of the future, and apt to anticipate bad fortune.
Brave and Bold Horatio Alger

It was hoped to anticipate the demands of the Conference by a scheme of reform wider than they were likely to advise.
The Turkish Empire, its Growth and Decay Lord Eversley

This junction O’Neill was determined to defeat, and did defeat it;—but let us not anticipate.
Ridgeway Scian Dubh

I was not; but both Hugh Atherton and myself were led to anticipate what the tenor of it would be.
The Catholic World. Volume III; Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. E. Rameur

verb (mainly transitive)
(may take a clause as object) to foresee and act in advance of: he anticipated the fall in value by selling early
to thwart by acting in advance of; forestall: I anticipated his punch by moving out of reach
(also intransitive) to mention (something) before its proper time: don’t anticipate the climax of the story
(may take a clause as object) to regard as likely; expect; foresee: he anticipated that it would happen
to make use of in advance of possession: he anticipated his salary in buying a house
to pay (a bill, etc) before it falls due
to cause to happen sooner: the spread of nationalism anticipated the decline of the Empire
v.

1530s, “to cause to happen sooner,” a back-formation from anticipation, or else from Latin anticipatus, past participle of anticipare “take (care of) ahead of time,” literally “taking into possession beforehand,” from ante “before” (see ante) + capere “to take” (see capable).

Later “to be aware of (something) coming at a future time” (1640s). Used in the sense of “expect, look forward to” since 1749, but anticipate has an element of “prepare for, forestall” that should prevent its being used as a synonym for expect. Related: Anticipated; anticipating.