oncoming

adjective

on·​com·​ing ˈȯn-ˌkə-miŋ 

ˈän-

1

a

: coming nearer in time or space

the oncoming year

oncoming traffic

an oncoming car

b

: future

looked forward to his oncoming visit

2

: emergent, rising

the oncoming generation

Synonyms of oncoming

• upcoming
• approaching
• impending
• coming

Examples of oncoming in a Sentence

we're looking forward to your oncoming visit

Recent Examples on the Web

Police say a black Honda pickup truck was traveling eastbound on Huron River and was preparing to turn left onto Stefano when a semi truck behind it swerved to the right and clipped the Honda truck, pushing it into oncoming traffic. — Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026

Police said the pedestrian suddenly left the sidewalk after crossing and ran into the path of oncoming traffic. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2026

Those traveling in a single lane or an outside lane, with a white stripe on the white side, can angle their car slightly, away from oncoming traffic, to hit the butt of the animal. — Celia Frazier, Denver Post, 2 Oct. 2026

Air raid sirens blare day and night, warning residents of oncoming fire and sending people running underground. — Dmytro Kuleba, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for oncoming

• becoming
• forthcoming
• homecoming
• incoming
• shortcoming
• succumbing
• upcoming
• coming
• cumming
• drumming
• gumming
• humming

Kids Definition

oncoming

adjective

on·​com·​ing ˈȯn-ˌkəm-iŋ 

ˈän-

: coming nearer

oncoming traffic