The phrase synonyms for looking forward usually expresses positive anticipation about something that is expected to happen in the future. It is common in emails, conversations, business communication, and personal writing.
Depending on the context, you can replace it with phrases such as anticipating, expecting, awaiting, hoping for, eager for, excited about, or enthusiastic about. However, these alternatives do not all have exactly the same meaning or tone.
Quick Answer
Common synonyms for looking forward include anticipating, expecting, awaiting, eager for, excited about, enthusiastic about, hopeful about, counting on, and waiting eagerly for. In professional emails, I look forward to hearing from you is already natural and polite, while I eagerly anticipate sounds more formal and enthusiastic.
Quick Synonym List
Anticipating
Expecting
Awaiting
Eager for
Excited about
Enthusiastic about
Hopeful about
Waiting eagerly for
Looking ahead to
Counting down to
Awaiting with interest
Hoping for
Preparing for
Expecting with excitement
Delighted about
Thrilled about
Keen to
Eager to
Anxious to
Interested in
Welcoming
Anticipating with excitement
Waiting for
Expecting positively
Looking forward to
Relishing the prospect of
Anticipating with pleasure
Excited to
Happy to anticipate
Keenly anticipating
What Does “Looking Forward” Mean?
Looking forward to means feeling pleased, excited, or hopeful about something that is expected to happen in the future.
I am looking forward to the weekend.
We are looking forward to meeting you.
The phrase usually has a positive and anticipatory meaning. It can refer to events, experiences, meetings, opportunities, or future activities.
The grammar is important:
I look forward to meeting you.
Not:
I look forward to meet you.
Here, to is a preposition, so it is followed by a noun or -ing form.
Closest Synonyms for Looking Forward
Anticipating
Anticipating means expecting something and thinking about it before it happens.
We are anticipating a successful event.
It is one of the closest alternatives to looking forward to, but it can sometimes be more neutral or formal.
Expecting
Expecting means believing that something is likely to happen.
We are expecting your arrival tomorrow.
Unlike looking forward to, expecting does not necessarily express excitement.
Awaiting
Awaiting means waiting for something to happen or arrive.
We are awaiting your response.
It is especially common in formal and professional writing.
Eager for
Eager for expresses strong enthusiasm or impatience for something.
She is eager for the opportunity.
Excited about
Excited about expresses strong positive emotion about a future event or experience.
They are excited about the upcoming trip.
This is more conversational than looking forward to.
Enthusiastic about
Enthusiastic about expresses strong positive interest or excitement.
The team is enthusiastic about the new project.
It works particularly well in professional contexts.
Hopeful about
Hopeful about expresses optimism rather than definite excitement.
She is hopeful about the opportunity.
Looking Forward by Context
Looking Forward to an Event
Useful alternatives include:
Anticipating
Excited about
Eager for
Counting down to
Awaiting
We are looking forward to the conference.
We are excited about the conference.
Looking Forward to a Meeting
For professional communication:
Anticipating
Awaiting
Eager to meet
Keen to meet
Looking forward to meeting
I look forward to meeting you.
I am eager to meet you.
Looking Forward to a Response
In emails, useful alternatives include:
Awaiting your response
Anticipating your response
Hoping to hear from you
Waiting for your reply
We look forward to hearing from you.
More formal:
We await your response.
Looking Forward to an Opportunity
Useful alternatives include:
Eager for
Excited about
Hopeful about
Enthusiastic about
Keen to pursue
She is eager for the opportunity to lead the project.
Looking Forward to Something Happening
Consider:
Anticipating
Expecting
Awaiting
Hoping for
Excited about
The best choice depends on whether you want to emphasize expectation, hope, or excitement.
Formal and Professional Alternatives
For professional emails, applications, business communication, and formal writing, consider:
I look forward to…
I look forward to hearing from you.
I look forward to meeting you.
I anticipate…
I await…
I am eager to…
I am pleased to anticipate…
I am enthusiastic about…
I look forward to the opportunity to…
Example
Common:
I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Formal:
I look forward to your response.
More formal:
I await your response.
However, await can sound more distant or formal than look forward to, so it should be used carefully.
Casual Alternatives
In everyday conversation, natural alternatives include:
I’m excited about…
I can’t wait for…
I’m eager for…
I’m really looking forward to…
I’m counting down to…
I’m excited to…
I’m keen to…
I can’t wait for the weekend!
I’m really excited about the trip.
I can’t wait is very common and enthusiastic, but it is more informal.
Stronger Alternatives for Looking Forward
When you want to communicate stronger excitement, use:
Can’t wait for
Eagerly anticipating
Thrilled about
Extremely excited about
Counting down to
Keenly anticipating
Relishing the prospect of
Example
Neutral:
I’m looking forward to the concert.
More enthusiastic:
I’m really excited about the concert.
Very enthusiastic:
I can’t wait for the concert!
Synonyms vs. Near Synonyms
| Phrase | Main Meaning | Tone | Exact Substitute? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anticipating | Expecting something before it happens | Neutral/formal | Often |
| Expecting | Believing something will happen | Neutral | Sometimes |
| Awaiting | Waiting for something | Formal | Sometimes |
| Eager for | Strongly wanting something to happen | Positive | Sometimes |
| Excited about | Feeling strong enthusiasm | Casual/neutral | Sometimes |
| Enthusiastic about | Showing strong interest or excitement | Professional | Sometimes |
| Hopeful about | Feeling optimistic | Neutral | No |
| Can’t wait for | Very excited | Casual | Sometimes |
| Counting down to | Eagerly waiting for a specific date/event | Casual | Sometimes |
| Keen to | Very interested or eager | British/formal-neutral | Sometimes |
| Waiting for | Simply remaining until something happens | Neutral | No |
| Preparing for | Getting ready for something | Neutral | No |
Comparison Table
| If you mean… | Best alternative |
|---|---|
| Positive anticipation | Anticipating |
| Simply expecting something | Expecting |
| Waiting formally | Awaiting |
| Strong desire | Eager for |
| Strong excitement | Excited about |
| Professional enthusiasm | Enthusiastic about |
| Optimism about the future | Hopeful about |
| Very informal excitement | Can’t wait for |
| Eagerly waiting for a date | Counting down to |
| Strong interest | Keen to |
| Simply waiting | Waiting for |
How to Choose the Right Alternative
Use anticipating when you want a close, slightly formal alternative.
Use expecting when the main idea is that something is likely to happen.
Use awaiting for formal or professional situations where the focus is on waiting.
Use eager for when you want to emphasize strong desire.
Use excited about for natural, enthusiastic everyday communication.
Use enthusiastic about for professional or organizational contexts.
Use hopeful about when the future outcome is uncertain.
Use can’t wait for when the tone is casual and highly enthusiastic.
Use counting down to when someone is eagerly waiting for a specific event or date.
Sentence Transformations
Original
I am looking forward to the weekend.
Alternative:
I am excited about the weekend.
Original
We are looking forward to meeting you.
Alternative:
We are eager to meet you.
Original
I look forward to hearing from you.
Alternative:
I await your response.
Original
She is looking forward to the trip.
Alternative:
She is excited about the trip.
Original
They are looking forward to the event.
Alternative:
They are anticipating the event.
Original
He is looking forward to the opportunity.
Alternative:
He is eager for the opportunity.
Original
We are looking forward to the results.
Alternative:
We are awaiting the results.
Original
I am looking forward to the holidays.
Alternative:
I am counting down to the holidays.
Original
She is looking forward to starting her new job.
Alternative:
She is excited to start her new job.
Original
The team is looking forward to the new project.
Alternative:
The team is enthusiastic about the new project.
Real-World Examples
Professional Email
I look forward to hearing from you regarding the position.
Business Communication
We are enthusiastic about the opportunity to work together.
Everyday Conversation
I can’t wait for the weekend!
Travel
We are excited about our upcoming trip.
Academic Setting
Students are eager to participate in the research project.
Formal Communication
We await your response before proceeding.
Common Mistakes
1. Using “to” incorrectly
After look forward to, use a noun or an -ing form.
Correct:
I look forward to meeting you.
Incorrect:
I look forward to meet you.
2. Assuming “expecting” means “looking forward to”
Expecting describes anticipation of an event, but it does not necessarily show excitement.
I expect the package tomorrow.
This does not mean:
I am excited about the package.
3. Using “await” in casual conversation
Await is grammatically correct but can sound overly formal in everyday speech.
I await your reply.
In casual conversation:
I’m waiting for your reply.
4. Overusing “can’t wait”
Can’t wait is highly enthusiastic and informal. It may not suit professional or academic writing.
5. Confusing hope with expectation
Hoping for suggests that you want something to happen but are uncertain about the outcome.
I am hoping for good news.
This is different from simply expecting something.
6. Using “looking forward” for negative events
The phrase normally expresses positive anticipation.
I’m looking forward to the exam.
This may sound strange if the speaker dislikes exams. A phrase such as expecting or preparing for may be more accurate.
Confused Words
Looking Forward vs. Expecting
Looking forward to expresses positive anticipation. Expecting mainly means believing something will happen.
I am looking forward to the vacation.
I am expecting the flight to arrive at noon.
Looking Forward vs. Awaiting
Both can describe waiting, but looking forward to usually expresses positive anticipation, while awaiting focuses more on the act of waiting.
Looking Forward vs. Hoping
Hoping expresses a desired possibility, while looking forward to generally suggests that the event is expected to happen.
Looking Forward vs. Excited
Excited expresses strong enthusiasm. Looking forward to can be positive without being highly emotional.
Looking Forward vs. Can’t Wait
Can’t wait is a much more informal and enthusiastic expression.
Grammar and Usage
The standard structure is:
look forward to + noun
I look forward to the meeting.
Or:
look forward to + verb-ing
I look forward to meeting you.
The to in this expression is a preposition, so it is followed by a noun or gerund rather than the base form of a verb.
Common expressions
look forward to hearing from you
look forward to meeting you
look forward to seeing you
look forward to working with you
look forward to the opportunity
look forward to the event
look forward to your response
look forward to the weekend
When Not to Use an Alternative
Do not replace looking forward to with expecting when you specifically want to communicate excitement.
Do not use awaiting when a friendly, conversational tone is needed.
Do not use can’t wait in formal business communication unless the tone allows informality.
Do not use hoping for when the event is already expected and you simply want to express positive anticipation.
Do not use eager when you want a neutral tone because it communicates stronger enthusiasm.
Writing Improvement Tips
Use looking forward to for polite, positive anticipation.
Use anticipating for a more formal tone.
Use awaiting when emphasizing formal waiting.
Use excited about for conversational enthusiasm.
Use enthusiastic about in professional contexts.
Use eager to when showing strong interest.
Use can’t wait for only when an informal, enthusiastic tone fits.
Use hoping for when the desired outcome is uncertain.
Remember that look forward to is followed by a noun or -ing form.
Editor’s Choice
For professional emails, I look forward to hearing from you remains one of the most natural and polite choices.
For a formal alternative, I anticipate or I await your response can work, although they create a more formal tone.
For everyday conversation, I’m excited about and I can’t wait for sound more natural and enthusiastic.
For academic or professional writing, anticipating, eager to, and enthusiastic about provide useful alternatives when their specific meanings fit.
Related Questions
What is another way to say looking forward to?
What is a formal synonym for looking forward?
What can I say instead of “I look forward to hearing from you”?
What is another word for excited about?
What is the difference between looking forward and expecting?
What is a professional way to say looking forward?
What is a casual way to say looking forward to?
Is “anticipating” the same as “looking forward to”?
FAQs
What is the best synonym for looking forward to?
Anticipating is one of the closest alternatives, while excited about, eager for, and enthusiastic about can express stronger positive feelings.
What is a formal way to say looking forward to?
In formal writing, you can use anticipating, awaiting, or I look forward to. The exact choice depends on whether you want to emphasize anticipation or waiting.
What can I say instead of “I look forward to hearing from you”?
You can say I await your response, I anticipate hearing from you, or I hope to hear from you soon. I look forward to hearing from you remains the most natural professional option in many situations.
Is “anticipating” the same as “looking forward to”?
They are close, but not identical. Anticipating means expecting something before it happens, while looking forward to normally adds a positive sense of anticipation.
What is a casual way to say looking forward to?
Common casual alternatives include I’m excited about, I can’t wait for, I’m eager for, and I’m counting down to.
What is another word for looking forward to an event?
You can use anticipating the event, excited about the event, eager for the event, awaiting the event, or counting down to the event, depending on the tone.
Is “awaiting” a synonym for looking forward to?
Awaiting can sometimes replace looking forward to, but it mainly emphasizes waiting rather than excitement. It is also more formal.
What is the difference between “looking forward to” and “hoping for”?
Looking forward to usually suggests positive anticipation of something expected to happen. Hoping for expresses a desired outcome that may or may not happen.
Key Takeaways
Anticipating is one of the closest formal alternatives to looking forward to.
Excited about communicates stronger, more conversational enthusiasm.
Awaiting emphasizes waiting and is more formal.
Eager to or eager for shows strong interest or desire.
After look forward to, use a noun or -ing form, such as “look forward to meeting.”
Conclusion
The best synonym for looking forward to depends on the level of excitement, formality, and certainty you want to communicate. Anticipating is a close and useful alternative, while excited about sounds more conversational and enthusiastic about works well in professional contexts. Awaiting emphasizes waiting, whereas eager to highlights strong interest. For highly informal situations, can’t wait for and counting down to can express greater excitement. Choosing the right alternative helps your writing sound natural while preserving the exact feeling you want to communicate.