Synonyms for “expecting” include “anticipating”, “awaiting”, and “looking forward to”.
“Anticipating” implies looking ahead and mentally preparing for something to happen. For example, “She was anticipating the arrival of her guests with excitement.” It suggests a sense of eagerness and preparation as one thinks about a future event.
“Awaiting” means to wait for or be in expectation of something. For instance, “They were awaiting the results of the test.” It has a more passive connotation, simply indicating a state of waiting.
“Looking forward to” expresses a positive expectation and excitement about something in the future. For example, “I am looking forward to my vacation.” It emphasizes a sense of pleasure and anticipation.
All of these words convey the idea of having an expectation or waiting for something to occur. However, they each have their own nuances and can be used in different contexts depending on the tone and emphasis one wants to convey.