highly anticipated

Meaning

'Highly anticipated' is a common collocation used to describe something (usually a movie, video game, book, album, or event) that a large number of people are looking forward to with great excitement. It implies a lot of hype and high expectations.

Examples

• The highly anticipated sequel to the blockbuster movie will finally be released this Friday.

  The highly anticipated sequel to the blockbuster movie will finally be released this Friday.

• Fans queued up overnight to buy the band's highly anticipated new album.

  Fans queued up overnight to buy the band's highly anticipated new album.

• After years of development, the highly anticipated video game was a massive disappointment.

  After years of development, the highly anticipated video game was a massive disappointment.

• The theater has sold out all tickets for the highly anticipated broadway show.

  The theater has sold out all tickets for the highly anticipated broadway show.

• Critics have already written glowing reviews for this highly anticipated drama series.

  Critics have already written glowing reviews for this highly anticipated drama series.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ This is a high anticipated movie.

  ✓ This is a highly anticipated movie.

  'Anticipated' is an adjective, so it must be modified by the adverb 'highly', not the adjective 'high'.

• ✗ The game is highly anticipating by fans.

  ✓ The game is highly anticipated by fans.

  The passive form 'is anticipated' (past participle) is required here because the game is the object of the anticipation, not the subject doing the anticipating.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The ___ sequel to the sci-fi movie broke box office records on its first weekend.

  💡 Eagerly awaited by a lot of people.

  Show answer

  highly anticipated

• Gamers have been waiting for five years for this ___ release.

  💡 Something people are looking forward to with great excitement.

  Show answer

  highly anticipated