expectation

/ˌekspekˈteɪʃən/ noun [C, often plural]

Definition

› what you believe or hope will happen in the future: Now the expectation is just 81 cents a share, according to a survey of a dozen analysts.expectation that sth The banks help out the government in the expectation that favours will be returned over time. The company says its revenue this year will fall $500,000 short of earlier expectations. Cost pressures are growing, and public and market expectations of inflation are rising. The group said it expected results for the second half to be in line with expectations, though there may be a shortfall in the first half of the year.

(Definition of expectation noun from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)