- a variation of future tense.
future
Americannoun
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futures
plural
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time that will be or come after the present.
In the future, the fines for these infractions may be much greater.
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something that will exist or happen in time to come.
The future is rooted in the past.
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a condition, especially of success or failure, to come.
An oracle had predicted the mighty hero's tragic future.
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Grammar. future tense.
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Stock Exchange. Usually futures. speculative purchases or sales of commodities to be received or delivered later on.
adjective
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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.
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relating to or connected with time to come.
I’m afraid my future plans are already made, and they don’t include farming.
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Grammar. designating a tense or other verb construction that refers to events or states happening after the present time.
noun
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the time yet to come
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undetermined events that will occur in that time
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the condition of a person or thing at a later date
the future of the school is undecided
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likelihood of later improvement or advancement
he has a future as a singer
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grammar
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a tense of verbs used when the action or event described is to occur after the time of utterance
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a verb in this tense
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from now on; henceforth
adjective
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that is yet to come or be
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of or expressing time yet to come
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(prenominal) destined to become
a future president
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grammar in or denoting the future as a tense of verbs
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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” ( see essence ( def. )); akin to Welsh bod “to be” ( see eisteddfod ( def. ))
Explanation
A time that hasn’t happened yet is the future. You're reading this in the present, and what you read by clicking on the link for the next screen will happen in the future, i.e., in the time ahead. Future goes back to the Latin root futūrus "about to be," and it is a noun or an adjective referring to things to come. When we hope, we are often imagining what will happen in the future. You might dream of becoming a doctor in the future, or you're looking forward to the weekend, just days away but still in the future. Now is the present, yesterday is the past, and tomorrow is the future, the opposite of the past.
Vocabulary lists containing future
Beowulf vocabulary
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"The Constitution"
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"Earth and Space"
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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.
See Examples For:
Because the frozen LiCOF enables such efficient interaction between light and sound, the technology could provide new ways to sharply reduce the amount of energy required by future photonic computing systems.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 22, 2026
The uncertainty in funding has put on hold future missions to Uranus, Venus and Enceladus, and a return of rock and soil samples from Mars, Dreier said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026
"We will not allow any nation to determine our future," he said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026
Salman played down the worries around the future, instead suggesting this is a team undergoing a "rebuild".
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
We had to learn if we wanted to protect the future.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
U.S. stock futures rose in the European morning, on pace to gain back some of Thursday’s sharp losses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
This plan would hopefully allow the girls to fund their children’s futures in much the same way I am hoping to help them.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
Work is said to be happening at "breakneck speed" behind the scenes, because of the pressure of players needing clarity on their futures, events needing to be organised, and sponsorships agreed.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
Find insight on oil futures, Bangchak Corp. and more in the latest Market Talks covering energy and utilities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
“I can see one of your futures anyhow. The future that will choose you if you stay put and do not act. Not a pretty picture.”
From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
