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Synonyms

upcoming

American  
[uhp-kuhm-ing] / ˈʌpˌkʌm ɪŋ /

adjective

  1. coming up; about to take place, appear, or be presented.

    the upcoming spring fashions.
    Synonyms:
    looming, imminent, prospective, impending
upcoming British  
/ ˌʌpˈkʌmɪŋ /

adjective

  1. coming soon; forthcoming

"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

Usage

What does upcoming mean? Upcoming is used to describe something that is scheduled or expected to happen or to be presented or released in the near future. A close synonym is forthcoming.Upcoming is most often used to describe events that will happen soon, like a wedding or an election, or things that will be released soon, such as an album, movie, or new product.The term typically implies that the event will happen or the thing will arrive relatively soon, such as within a few weeks or months or within a year or so. The farther away something is, the less likely you’d be to describe it as upcoming. You also probably wouldn’t use the word for something happening tomorrow.Upcoming should not be confused with the similar-sounding term up-and-coming, which means successful and likely to become more successful.Example: There is a lot of buzz around the up-and-coming band’s upcoming album that will be released in the spring.

Etymology

Origin of upcoming

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English; up- + coming

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.

Stellantis’s upcoming investor day in May will shed additional light on the future direction of the brand, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Also: As chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, he will be managing the upcoming reconciliation bill.

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

Dakota Mortensen’s storyline will be edited out of the upcoming season of “Vanderpump Villa.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Analysts cut price targets following the report, with investors now focused on upcoming AI initiatives and Q1 earnings.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Anthony was struggling to draft the remarks she was to present at the upcoming state teachers’ convention.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

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.