Expected In A Sentence: 50 Easy To Hard Examples!

Today you will learn how to use expected in a sentence like a native English speaker. It’s a useful verb for formal and casual communication. Look over these 50+ examples so you can clearly see how to make your own English sentences – from short and simple right up to advanced-level English.

In this article, we will:

Talk about the meaning of expected
Look at expected synonyms
Discuss the phrase “beyond expectations”
Look at how to use as expected
Look at examples of better than expected

Expected in a sentence

Let’s look at 25 examples of expected in a sentence. They are relatively short and simple, although for people unfamiliar with English they will still be quite challenging. Some of the verbs are quite tricky. Read them all out loud and practice repeating them. Scroll down for advanced sentences!

I expected the traffic to be bad this morning, but it was surprisingly smooth.
Sarah expected her package to arrive yesterday, but it didn’t come until today.
I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt you. I just expected you to finish your thought.
Brian expected to get a raise this year, but the company’s profits were down.
Did you hear that Jake got accepted into Harvard? I always expected him to do well academically.
I expected the party to be a bit more lively, but everyone seemed to be in a quiet mood.
Lisa expected her friend to be on time, but she ended up waiting for an hour.
I wasn’t sure if I should wear a coat or not, but the weather was warmer than I expected.
John expected his new puppy to be shy, but it was actually quite outgoing.
We expected to have more people show up to the meeting, but it ended up being just the two of us.
I expected the restaurant to be crowded, but we were able to get a table right away.
Michelle expected the play to be boring, but she ended up enjoying it more than she thought she would.
I’m sorry I’m late, I didn’t expect the train to be delayed.
Sarah expected to pass her driving test on the first try, but she failed.
We expected to have some difficulties with the project, but we were able to finish it ahead of schedule.
I didn’t expect to see you here! How have you been?
Brian expected his team to win the game, but they lost in the last minute.
The teacher expected the students to do their homework, but many of them didn’t.
I expected the movie to be scary, but it turned out to be more of a comedy.
Lisa expected her son to be home by midnight, but he ended up staying out until 2 am.
I didn’t expect to like sushi, but I tried it and now it’s one of my favorite foods.
John expected the hike to be easy, but it turned out to be more challenging than he thought.
We expected to have some disagreements during the meeting, but it ended up being a productive discussion.
Michelle expected the dress to be too small, but it actually fit her perfectly.
I’m sorry to hear that you’re feeling sick. I didn’t expect you to come to work today.

Expected meaning

Before we jump into our examples of expected in a sentence, let’s look at exactly what expected means: It’s a past tense verb that means to think or believe that something will happen or be true in the future. We can also simply talk about the past. For example, I expected him to come to the party.

It is often used to express a prediction or anticipation of something that has not yet happened. For example, “I expected that it would rain today.”
It can also be used to describe a situation where something is considered to be likely or inevitable. For example, “It is expected that he will be promoted to manager soon.”
When used in the past tense, “expected” refers to something that was anticipated but did not actually happen. For example, “I expected to get an A on the exam, but I only got a B.”
“Expected” can also be used to describe the level of performance or behavior that is considered normal or acceptable. For example, “Employees are expected to arrive at work on time.”
It can also be used in a negative context to express disappointment or dissatisfaction when something does not meet our expectations. For example, “The movie was not as good as I expected it to be.”

Beyond expectations

The expression “beyond expectations” means something happened that is better or more than what people anticipated. It is usually used in a positive way.

How do I use “beyond expectations” in a sentence?

We use beyond expectations in a descriptive way, so it is used to describe a noun. If we would like to add more emphasis, we can also say “beyond my wildest expectations”. Have a look at these three examples:

My holiday in Guam was beyond expectations. It was wonderful.
Your English test score was way beyond my expectations. Well done.
The bonus I received this year was beyond my wildest expectations. I still can’t believe it!

Expected synonyms: similar ways to mean expected in a sentence

To get a deeper understanding of the word expected, or any English vocabulary actually, it is always a good idea to look at alternative words. These “expected synonyms” can be used in similar ways to today’s main word, although there are differences, and nuance always plays a role. Here are some other words for expected:

Predicted – This means to forecast or estimate that something will happen in the future based on current trends or knowledge. Example: The weather forecasters predicted that there would be heavy snowfall this weekend.
Projected – This means to estimate or calculate something based on available data or information. Example: The company projected that sales would increase by 20% over the next year.
Anticipated – This means to expect something to happen or to look forward to something with excitement or anxiety. Example: The anticipated release of the new soft toy character caused long lines outside the store!
Thought – This is the past tense of think, and means we believe something to be true. Example: I thought it was going to rain this evening!

Expected in a sentence: 25 advanced English examples

Now let’s have a look at some advanced English examples of expected in a sentence. Here we will demonstrate the use of more sophisticated nouns, adverbs, and adjectives. Notice the use of the past tense, also.

The CEO of the company expected the new product launch to be a huge success, but sales were lower than anticipated due to stiff competition.
After months of preparation, Martin expected to win the race, but a last-minute injury prevented him from competing.
The archaeologists expected to find ancient artifacts during their excavation, but they were surprised to uncover an entire buried city!
Mary expected her husband to be home for dinner, but he had to work late again, which was starting to strain their relationship.
The government expected a backlash from the public after announcing the controversial new policy, but they were caught off guard by the scale of the protests.
The chef expected the meal to be well received by the customers, but the dish was sent back multiple times due to the undercooked meat.
The city had expected to experience some flooding during the heavy rain, but the severity of the storm caused widespread damage to homes and businesses.
Fred expected to do well on the exam, but the unexpected essay question threw him off and he struggled to answer it.
Despite the risks, the astronaut expected to complete the mission without any major problems, but a malfunction in the space station caused an emergency evacuation!
The band expected a small turnout for their concert, but the unexpected social media buzz led to a sold-out show.
The doctor expected the patient to recover quickly from the surgery, but complications arose that required additional procedures and a longer hospital stay, unfortunately.
The teacher expected to have a smooth first day of class, but the technical issues with the classroom equipment caused delays and confusion.
The parents expected their child to perform well in school, but they were concerned when they received a letter from the teacher about their child’s behavior.
The entrepreneur expected the business to be profitable within the first year, but unexpected expenses and slow sales made it difficult to break even.
Ava expected a mild winter, but a sudden cold front caused record-breaking low temperatures and heavy snowfall.
The couple expected a peaceful vacation on the tropical island, but the unexpected storm ruined their plans and left them stranded for days.
The scientist expected the experiment to yield interesting results, but the unexpected discovery of a new species revolutionized the field of biology.
Michael, an artist, expected the art show to be a success, but the unexpected cancellation due to a venue issue was a major setback.
The police officer expected to make an easy arrest, but the suspect put up a surprising fight and managed to escape!
The investor expected to make a substantial profit from the stock market, but the unexpected crash wiped out most of the gains.
The writer expected to finish the novel by the deadline, but the unexpected writer’s block made it difficult to make progress.
Coach Thomas expected his team to win the championship, but the unexpected injury to the star player derailed their chances.
Isabella expected a smooth journey to Europe, but the unexpected flight delays and cancellations caused stress and inconvenience to her.
Mr. Jones expected the business partnership to be mutually beneficial, but the unexpected differences in management styles caused tension and conflict.
The customer expected to receive high-quality service, but the unexpected rude behavior of the staff led to a complaint and a very negative review!

As expected: Meaning and examples

To continue our journey with expected in a sentence, let’s take a look at a variant of this: as expected.

“As expected” is a phrase used to indicate that something has happened in the way that was predicted or anticipated, typically because of prior experience or knowledge.

As expected: example sentences

I knew John would arrive late to the party, and as expected, he showed up an hour after everyone else!
The test results were exactly as expected, with the majority of the students scoring in the average range.
The weather forecast predicted heavy rain, and as expected, it poured all day, forcing us to cancel our outdoor plans.
The movie received negative reviews from critics, and as expected, it did poorly at the box office.
I was a little worried my flight would be delayed, but as expected, it arrived right on time. I hadn’t needed to worry after all!

Better than expected: Meaning and examples

Another variant of using expected is the phrase “better than expected”. It’s used to indicate that something has turned out to be more positive or successful than what was predicted or anticipated, exceeding initial expectations.

Better than expected: example sentences

The team’s performance was better than expected, and they managed to beat their opponent by a wide margin.
I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the restaurant’s food, which was much better than expected based on its online reviews!
The company’s profits for the quarter were better than expected, which resulted in a significant increase in stock prices. (not to mention a bonus for me!)
Despite the heavy rain, the turnout for the outdoor concert was better than expected, with loads more people showing up than anticipated.
The new hire’s productivity and performance were better than expected, leading to a promotion within just a few months.

Expected in a sentence: A summary and examples

Today we have looked at a wide array of uses for the word expected. Take a look at the below table for examples of how to use expected in a sentence using the various ways we’ve studied today!

About using expected in a sentence:	Expected meaning: We are thinking about the past tense, and picturing what we thought would happen. Check back up the article for more details!
Expected synonyms:	Some other words for expected are: predicted, anticipated, projected, estimated
Better than expected:	Things turned out nicer than you had imagined they would!
Expected in a sentence: short	I expected it to be sunny today, but it rained!
Expected in a sentence: higher level English	I hadn’t expected those exam questions to be quite so tough. I guess I should’ve revised more, and been far less complacent. Lesson learned!

I hope you have enjoyed reading, writing, and saying all of these sentences related to expectations today!