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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.

“I recognize that a young, doe-eyed reality star to-be, wanting fame at any costs, doesn’t know what they’re signing, and they can’t afford a good lawyer,” Frankel added.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 21, 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

Homologous chromosomes move to opposite poles during meiosis I so the number of sets of chromosomes in each nucleus- to-be is reduced from two to one.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

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

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.