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  • to-be
    to-be
    adjective
    future; soon to be the thing specified (usually used in combination).
  • -to-be
    -to-be
    adjective
    (in combination) about to be; future
Synonyms

to-be

American  
[tuh-bee] / təˈbi /

adjective

  1. future; soon to be the thing specified (usually used in combination).

    bride-to-be.


-to-be British  

adjective

  1. (in combination) about to be; future

    a mother-to-be

    the bride-to-be

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of to-be

First recorded in 1590–1600


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:

Toné! was born in 1986 when its to-be co-founders realized they could find success as their own entity.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 7, 2025

Renton School District’s 15,000 students will pilot the to-be finalized programs.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 24, 2023

“I lied that my Nana was a Holocaust survivor. My to-be best friend had a Nana who was a real Holocaust survivor, and I really wanted to bond up.”

From New York Times ● Jan. 8, 2022

The company said certified or to-be certified pharmacy technicians who are responsible for administering flu and COVID-19 vaccines will be given $1,000 reward throughout a six-month retention period.

From Reuters ● Sep. 17, 2021

But his jabbing at me about being late does not leave me much room for wanting to-be nice.

From "The Misfits" by James Howe

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