future

American  

[fyoo-cher] / ˈfyu tʃər /

noun

1. time that will be or come after the present.

   In the future, the fines for these infractions may be much greater.

2. something that will exist or happen in time to come.

   The future is rooted in the past.

3. a condition, especially of success or failure, to come.

   An oracle had predicted the mighty hero's tragic future.

4. Grammar. future tense.

5. Stock Exchange. Usually futures. speculative purchases or sales of commodities to be received or delivered later on.

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adjective

1. coming or happening after the present time.

   All these decisions are uncertain, as they depend on future events.

   On some future day when you are least expecting it, I will return.

2. relating to or connected with time to come.

   I’m afraid my future plans are already made, and they don’t include farming.

3. Grammar. designating a tense or other verb construction that refers to events or states happening after the present time.

future British  

/ ˈfjuːtʃə /

noun

1. the time yet to come

2. undetermined events that will occur in that time

3. the condition of a person or thing at a later date

   the future of the school is undecided

4. likelihood of later improvement or advancement

   he has a future as a singer

5. grammar

   1. a tense of verbs used when the action or event described is to occur after the time of utterance

   2. a verb in this tense

6. from now on; henceforth

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adjective

1. that is yet to come or be

2. of or expressing time yet to come

3. (prenominal) destined to become

   a future president

4. grammar in or denoting the future as a tense of verbs

future Idioms  

1. see in the near future.

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Other Word Forms

• futureless adjective

Etymology

Origin of future

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English futur, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin fūtūrus “about to be, going to be,” future participle of esse “to be” ( essence ( def. ) ); akin to Welsh bod “to be” ( eisteddfod ( def. ) )

Example Sentences

Skyrmions are promising for future information technologies because they are small, stable and protected by their topology.

From Science Daily

In the future, scientists may be able to design strategies that preserve their positive effects on healthy aging while reducing their potential to support cancer development.

From Science Daily

“So I thought, ‘OK, what if I do “Romeo and Juliet” in the future; what would that look like?’”

From Los Angeles Times

In the future, Vicioso hopes that more men learn to engage with flowers.

From Los Angeles Times

Traders had bid up futures as the January ultimatum for them to leave Kuwait loomed.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• eventual
• forthcoming
• imminent
• impending
• planned
• prospective
• subsequent
• ultimate