expectant

Expectant is an adjective describing a state of waiting for something anticipated or desired, often with a sense of potential imminence. It connotes eagerness or hope, but can also imply cautious waiting. The term can describe both emotional states and practical approaches to time or events.

The word derives from Latin exspectare, meaning to look out for or await, via Old French and into Middle English. Its usage has long covered both general anticipation and specific situations in medicine, law, and everyday life.

In common usage, expectant appears in phrases such as expectant mother or expectant father, referring to a pregnant person and the period around childbirth. It can also describe a broader mood, as in an expectant audience, expectant silence, or an expectant gaze, where listeners or observers await what will come next with interest or suspense. The term often carries a nuance of hopeful waiting, though it can also be neutral or slightly tense depending on context.

In medicine, expectant management denotes a conservative approach that emphasizes observation and delaying intervention until there are clear indications to act. This approach is used in various obstetric and medical settings when ongoing monitoring is deemed preferable to immediate treatment, provided the patient remains stable.

See also: expectation, expectancy, anticipate, expect.