upcoming
Americanadjective
adjective
Usage
What does upcoming mean? Upcoming is used to describe something that is scheduled or expected to happen or to be presented or released in the near future. A close synonym is forthcoming. Upcoming is most often used to describe events that will happen soon, like a wedding or an election, or things that will be released soon, such as an album, movie, or new product. The term typically implies that the event will happen or the thing will arrive relatively soon, such as within a few weeks or months or within a year or so. The farther away something is, the less likely you’d be to describe it as upcoming. You also probably wouldn’t use the word for something happening tomorrow. Upcoming should not be confused with the similar-sounding term up-and-coming, which means successful and likely to become more successful. Example: There is a lot of buzz around the up-and-coming band’s upcoming album that will be released in the spring.
Etymology
Origin of upcoming
Explanation
Upcoming means happening soon. If you've always wanted a surprise party, you might drop hints to your friends about your upcoming birthday. The adjective upcoming was first used in the 19th century to mean "rising," but its meaning changed to "forthcoming" or "imminent" by the mid-20th century. If you'll vote next month, you might talk about the upcoming election, and your little sister might be excited about your upcoming family trip to Disney World. Whenever you find yourself thinking of an event that's coming up, it's upcoming!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For now, Alexander-Arnold will be hoping for more minutes in their three upcoming games, two league and one Champions League, before the international break.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026
An upcoming exhibition at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, previewed by AFP, examines the ambiguity.
From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026
By eliminating certain possibilities, the researchers have provided information that could make future searches more efficient and help astronomers focus on planets that remain within reach of upcoming observatories.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2026
“And that’s why also in the upcoming acquisition, we, after closing, want to keep the storefront separate.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
He stopped in front of the lord's house, raising his head to breathe in the delicious smells of the upcoming banquet.
From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin
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