Half-expectant is a word that expresses a feeling of anticipation or readiness for something that is about to happen. There are several synonyms that can be used to describe this sense of expectation, such as eager, hopeful, anticipatory, anticipating, agog, expectant, and enthusiastic. These words convey a similar sense of excitement and anticipation, but with varying degrees of intensity. For example, eager and enthusiastic suggest a strong desire for something to happen, while hopeful and expectant may imply a more subdued anticipation. Ultimately, choosing the right synonym to convey a half-expectant mood depends on the context in which it is being used and the intended tone of the sentence.