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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

Its been one of the most anticipated collaborations of the season, possibly the year.
Seven Questions for Phillip Lim, Who Unveils a New Target Collection September 15 The Fashion Beast Team September 14, 2013

Here are some of the country’s most anticipated pop-ups to come.
The Buzziest Pop-Up Restaurants Tien Nguyen February 15, 2011

One way of answering the question is to look at trendline growth in GDP compared to the anticipated size of any looming recession.
It Didn’t Work In Japan and It Won’t Here Either Paul Kedrosky October 20, 2008

Check out a sneak peek of one of the most anticipated films of the year.
Exclusive: Watch a Clip From ‘Birdman,’ Featuring an Award-Worthy Turn by Michael Keaton Marlow Stern September 30, 2014

“I certainly would not have anticipated the degree to which this has become a huge issue again,” he says.
The Agony of Cosby’s Biographer: Why Mark Whitaker Ignored Rape Allegations Lloyd Grove November 19, 2014

Historical Examples

He had anticipated a much warmer welcome than that which greeted him on his arrival.
Brave Old Salt Oliver Optic

Among his friends his speech was anticipated with lively interest.
The Grand Old Man Richard B. Cook

We have already seen that he was luckier than he anticipated.
Do and Dare Horatio Alger, Jr.

He felt that his visit had not been at all the brilliant success he had anticipated.
In the Midst of Alarms Robert Barr

Sooner even than the captain had anticipated the news came in a despatch brought from the north of England.
In Honour’s Cause George Manville Fenn

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.