anticipate problems
/ænˈtɪsɪpeɪt ˈprɒbləmz/
Meaning
To foresee potential difficulties or obstacles before they actually occur and take action to prevent or prepare for them. It is highly valued in professional, academic, and project management contexts. The tone is proactive, organized, and formal.
Examples
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A good project manager must always anticipate problems before they disrupt the timeline.
A good project manager must always anticipate problems before they disrupt the timeline.
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By carefully analyzing the data, we were able to anticipate problems with the new software release.
By carefully analyzing the data, we were able to anticipate problems with the new software release.
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It is much cheaper to anticipate problems during the design phase than to fix them after production.
It is much cheaper to anticipate problems during the design phase than to fix them after production.
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We need to look at this plan from every angle to anticipate any potential problems.
We need to look at this plan from every angle to anticipate any potential problems.
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Her ability to anticipate problems made her an invaluable asset to the logistics team.
Her ability to anticipate problems made her an invaluable asset to the logistics team.
Common Mistakes
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✗ We must expectate problems before they happen.
✓ We must anticipate problems before they happen.
'Expectate' is not a valid English word. Use 'anticipate' or 'expect' instead.
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✗ The team failed to anticipate for problems in the budget.
✓ The team failed to anticipate problems in the budget.
'Anticipate' is a transitive verb and does not require the preposition 'for'.
Related Expressions
Practice
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To ensure a smooth launch, we must try to ___ and have contingency plans ready.
💡 Foresee issues before they occur.
Show answer
anticipate problems
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Experienced event planners always ___ such as bad weather or technical delays.
💡 Think about what might go wrong beforehand.
Show answer
anticipate problems