: that is to be : future
usually used postpositively and often in combination
a bride-to-be

Examples of to-be in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The soon-to-be 25-year-old outfielder, who served as the Yankees’ DH on Friday, did reach base in his second at-bat, working a seven-pitch, full-count walk, one of two permitted by Misiorowski. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026 Retirees and soon-to-be retirees have long been a potent voting bloc that instill fear in lawmakers, especially those contemplating any adjustments to Social Security and Medicare. Jason Ma, Fortune, 9 May 2026 Expectant mothers, soon-to-be pregnant women and their supporters gathered in the sanctuary of a South Side church Saturday to learn how to best advocate for themselves during pregnancy and where to find health resources. Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026 After their limo driver (Ken Marino) accidentally runs them off the road, the soon-to-be graduates have an emotional heart-to-heart and decide to skip the dance entirely. Diana Pearl, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for to-be

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of to-be was in 1594

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Cite this Entry

“To-be.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/to-be. Accessed 12 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

to-be

adjective
tə-ˈbē
: that is to be : future
often used in combination
a bride-to-be
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