To seize or take beforehand.To be before in doing something; take action in advance of; precede, prevent, or preclude by prior action.To take, do, use, etc., before the proper time; precipitate, as an action or event: as, the advocate has anticipated that part of his argument.To realize beforehand; foretaste or foresee; have a view or impression of beforehand; look forward to; expect: as, I never anticipated such a disaster; to anticipate the pleasures of an entertainment.To occupy the attention of before the proper time.Synonyms To get the start of, forestall.To forecast, count upon, prepare one's self for, calculate upon.To treat of something, as in a narrative, before the proper time.