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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

Already there have been indications not everyone is anticipating the film with open arms.
What Are They Hiding? Jacob Bernstein October 24, 2009

Our other nominees all flourished by anticipating the hard ones.
My Inside Tips for Sonia Kenneth Duberstein May 26, 2009

They’ve been doing a lot of praying,” Amendola said, “anticipating the possibility that Jerry may not come home.
Sandusky Guilty Verdict: What’s Next for Jerry Diane Dimond June 22, 2012

We are not commemorating her—we are cherishing her and celebrating her and anticipating her return.
Person of Interest Identified in Disappearance of UVA Student Hannah Graham Julia Horowitz September 18, 2014

Activists are anticipating more crackdowns, starting tonight.
Egypt in Chaos as Protesters Call for Military Council to Transfer Power Mike Giglio November 19, 2011

Historical Examples

I tried, however, to show it in other ways, by the attentions I paid him and by anticipating his every wish.
Uncanny Tales Various

Much obliged to you for recalling it so accurately and anticipating me.
Little Dorrit Charles Dickens

anticipating a speedy entrance, Matthews warmed to his task.
The Plow-Woman Eleanor Gates

They are anticipating the Home Rule Bill in their disposal of the land.
Ireland as It Is Robert John Buckley (AKA R.J.B.)

Releasing Shaynon, he stepped back warily, anticipating nothing less than an instant and disgraceful brawl.
The Day of Days Louis Joseph Vance

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.