future

[fyoo-cher]

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.

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

/ 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

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

Other Word Forms

• futureless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of future¹

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. ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of future¹

C14: from Latin fūtūrus about to be, from esse to be

Idioms and Phrases

see in the near future.

Example Sentences

Quantum computing is often described as a future technology capable of handling problems that traditional computers cannot touch.

Read more on Science Daily

The project received support from the Australian Research Council and the US Air Force Office of Sponsored Research and aligns with Monash University's broader goal of advancing materials for a low-carbon energy future.

Read more on Science Daily

New orders are a sign of future production, and they have been hovering near the lowest levels in 15 years.

Read more on MarketWatch

They have estimated spending $8 billion on the project, which would include a hotel and concert venue and connect with the future site of New York City Football Club’s stadium.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

O'Neill was asked for his reflections during his spell as interim boss and says it has prompted thoughts about whether he would like to continue managing in the future.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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