future 1 of 2

noun

Definition of futurenext
1
as in tomorrow
time that is to come in the future, there may be medical discoveries that are beyond our fondest dreams

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fate
what is going to happen to someone in the time ahead with such a strong academic record, his future looks bright

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

future

2 of 2

adjective

ˈfyü-chər How to pronounce future (audio)
as in coming
of a time after the present we must preserve our national parks in all their glory so that future generations can experience the majesty of nature

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of future
Noun
For Lalande, the scholarship is about making sure a child's past doesn't determine their future. — Marissa Perlman, CBS News, 30 July 2026 Stock market futures were positive following the report while Treasury yields were sharply higher. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 30 July 2026
Adjective
The successful landing is a major milestone in SpaceX's goal to develop the rocket for future moon and Mars missions. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 29 July 2026 This is a spot to impress your future spouse or to celebrate a milestone. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for future
Recent Examples of Synonyms for future
  1. tomorrow
  2. fate
  3. coming
  4. futurity
  5. destiny
  6. upcoming
  7. circumstance
  8. subsequent
Noun
  • But before Boeing and Airbus compete over tomorrow's narrow-body aircraft, both still have to deliver on today's orders.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 21 July 2026
  • Overlapping time zones, a phone that buzzes through dinner, investors who expect answers before the market opens tomorrow, and social-media pressure all threaten reputations.
    — Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of tomorrow
Noun
  • Merely playing postseason baseball might not guarantee Brown or manager Joe Espada new deals in Houston, but missing out on it altogether might seal their fates with owner Jim Crane.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 27 July 2026
  • On this pivotal question lies the fate of the youthful Prime Minister whose performance is being closely watched by an emboldened electorate.
    — Vasuki Shastry, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of fate
Adjective
  • The people who thrive in the coming decade will not be the ones who out-compete the machines.
    — Laurel Donnellan, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • We’re told the NHL is a copycat league, so what team serves as a template for Steen’s trades/signings in the coming seasons?
    — Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 21 July 2026
Definition of coming
Noun
  • Established in 2023, the biennial prize is given in recognition of next-gen multidisciplinary artists working at the intersection of art, media, and technology to explore notions of futurity and transformation.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 4 Nov. 2025
  • This reading list offers resources for engaging with Indigenous thought, resistance, and futurity.
    — JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 11 Oct. 2025
Definition of futurity
Noun
  • Injuries, subpar performances by Rams players and coaches, and outstanding clutch play by opponents — see the 2025 Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks — could derail the Rams’ presumptive date with destiny.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
  • In April, the club opened the 26,700-seat Nu Stadium, giving it a permanent home and more control over its commercial destiny after six seasons at a temporary venue called Chase Stadium at the end of its tenure.
    — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of destiny
Adjective
  • Last school year the district experienced an enrollment drop of about 13,000 students, the Miami Herald reported and is projected to lose another 8,000 in the upcoming school year.
    — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026
  • Patrick DeHaan, analyst at GasBuddy, agreed, telling NBC News that the upcoming hurricane season could further complicate gas prices.
    — Christine Romans, NBC news, 25 July 2026
Definition of upcoming
Noun
  • Some states, such as New Jersey and Massachusetts, have enacted legislation requiring businesses to accept cash payments in at least some circumstances, and some local governments have similar regulations.
    — Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 28 July 2026
  • And while the ongoing lease negotiation is under entirely different circumstances, the move from the General Assembly has colored some of the conversations now.
    — DJ Simmons July 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 July 2026
Definition of circumstance
Adjective
  • All of those trades, and subsequent extensions, represented a shift in team-building, one that focuses on players in earlier stages of their careers.
    — Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • Johnson later identified Scholten by name in subsequent posts, intensifying the controversy.
    — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 21 July 2026
Definition of subsequent

Browse Nearby Words

futons
future
futureless
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Cite this Entry

“Future.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/future. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on future

Nglish: Translation of future for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about future

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