set an expectation
English Meaning & Definitions
To clearly define and communicate what is required, anticipated, or standard for a particular situation, project, or relationship so that others understand the goals.
- “At the start of the semester, the professor set an expectation that all assignments must be submitted by Friday.”
- “Managers need to set clear expectations with their team members to avoid misunderstandings later.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “set an expectation”.
The phrase combines the verb 'set' (from Old English 'settan', meaning to cause to sit, place, or establish) with 'expectation' (derived from the Latin 'exspectare', meaning to look out for, await, or anticipate). In modern business and interpersonal contexts, it evolved to describe the proactive act of defining standards or anticipated outcomes before a task or relationship begins.
Think of a runner at the starting line: the official 'sets' the rules and boundaries before the race begins so everyone knows what to expect.
Frequently Asked Questions About “set an expectation”
1. What is the meaning of “set an expectation” in English?
In English, set an expectation (idiom) is defined as: “To clearly define and communicate what is required, anticipated, or standard for a particular situation, project, or relationship so that others understand the goals.”.
2. How do you use “set an expectation” in a sentence?
“At the start of the semester, the professor set an expectation that all assignments must be submitted by Friday.”
3. What are English synonyms of “set an expectation”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “set an expectation”?
The phrase combines the verb 'set' (from Old English 'settan', meaning to cause to sit, place, or establish) with 'expectation' (derived from the Latin 'exspectare', meaning to look out for, await, or anticipate). In modern business and interpersonal contexts, it evolved to describe the proactive act of defining standards or anticipated outcomes before a task or relationship begins.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →A measurement of time indicating an instantaneous occurrence or a state where no time has elapsed.
The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.