anticipar
verbCEFR B1
What does “anticipar” mean in English?
to anticipate, to foresee
to anticipate, to foresee (transitive: anticipar un problema; also anticiparse a = to get ahead of)
Example sentences
No habíamos anticipado que el proyecto se alargaría tres meses más, así que ahora tenemos que revisar todo el presupuesto y el calendario.
We had not anticipated that the project would run three months longer, so now we have to revise the entire budget and schedule.
El departamento se anticipó a los posibles cortes de suministro y acumuló reservas suficientes para cubrir al menos dos meses de producción.
The department got ahead of the possible supply cuts and built up enough reserves to cover at least two months' production.
Si hubiera anticipado cuánto costaría la reforma, probablemente no me habría comprado el piso, aunque al final todo ha salido bien.
If I had anticipated how much the renovation would cost, I probably would not have bought the flat, although in the end everything has worked out well.
How to use it
Anticipar means 'to anticipate' or 'to foresee' and is mostly transitive: you anticipate an outcome (anticipar un problema, anticipar la llegada de alguien). It also takes the form anticipar que + indicative when the anticipated content is expressed as a clause: No habíamos anticipado que se retrasaría tanto. In reflexive form, anticiparse a means 'to get ahead of' or 'to act before something happens': Se anticipó a los problemas técnicos y lo arregló antes del evento. The cognate relationship with English 'anticipate' is fairly reliable, but the reflexive form anticiparse a has no natural English parallel and needs explicit teaching.
Common mistake
Anticipar + infinitive is not standard — say 'anticipo que vendrá' (that he/she will come) not '*anticipo venir'. When both subjects are the same, use pensar or planear: 'Pienso llegar temprano', not '*me anticipo a llegar'. Also, anticipar que always takes indicative because it asserts a projected fact, not a wish or doubt.