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

All eyes are on future price rises for the hardware.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

In Port Washington north of Milwaukee, where a new data center is being built, voters approved a ballot question that could stymie future projects.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

He wanted to recapture that experience, but said the sticker shock left a bad taste, and he does not plan to peruse tickets in future drops.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

Bob Lang, chief options analyst at Explosive Options, said Intel’s Terafab partnership gives it “a huge footprint” on the future of AI development.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

We had to learn if we wanted to protect the future.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Related Words

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