expectation - the feeling that something is about to happen

suspense - excited anticipation of an approaching climax; "the play kept the audience in suspense"

fever - intense nervous anticipation; "in a fever of resentment"

hope - a specific instance of feeling hopeful; "it revived their hope of winning the pennant"

expectation, outlook, prospect - belief about (or mental picture of) the future

life expectancy - an expected time to live as calculated on the basis of statistical probabilities