futurity

noun

fu·tu·ri·ty fyü-ˈtu̇r-ə-tē

-ˈtyu̇r-,

-ˈchu̇r-

plural futurities

Synonyms of futurity next

: time to come : future

: the quality or state of being future

futurities plural : future events or prospects

: a horse race usually for two-year-olds in which the competitors are nominated at birth or before

: a race or competition for which entries are made well in advance of the event

Did you know?

Futurity is a forward-looking word with a literate past. Its first known use is in Shakespeare's Othello, when the downtrodden Cassio, mystified about why Othello has turned against him, beseeches Desdemona to tell him whether his "offense be of such mortal kind / That nor my service past, nor present sorrows, / Nor purpos'd merit in futurity / Can ransom me into his love again." The term was also used by Benjamin Franklin ("I must one of these days go back to see him . . . but futurities are uncertain"), and Sir Walter Scott wrote of events "still in the womb of futurity" (that is, events that hadn't happened yet). Today, "futurity" often refers to a race, usually for two-year-old horses, in which the competitors are entered at birth or before, or to a race or competition for which entries are made well in advance of the event.

Example Sentences

In English we can express futurity with “will” and “shall.” we can scarcely imagine what observers in some remote futurity will think of civilization as it existed at the dawn of the 21st century

Recent Examples on the Web As a consequence, Cadillac’s flag-bearer of futurity is not quite, um, finished. —

Dan Neil, WSJ, 1 Dec. 2022 Akira bundles up Japan's YTK millennial-approaching existential dread and spins it into an epic about technology and futurity. —

Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 18 Aug. 2022 Constituent’s biggest win of the year came in the Restricted Grade 1 Governor’s Cup Futurity when the son of Seperate Interest outdueled stablemate Squid Word to win the 350-yard futurity by a nose. —

John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2021 His five victories were second overall among freshman sprinters behind Grade 1 futurity winner Apollitical Patty’s six wins. —

John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2021 Her victory was the largest margin by a Two Million winner in his or her next start after winning the rich futurity. —

John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2021 The 10 fastest qualifiers will move on to compete in the first futurity final of the year. —

John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2021 The trials to the track’s first futurity, the Grade 2 Robert Adair Kindergarten, will take place on Sunday, April 25. —

John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2021 Her margin of victory was the largest ever by a Million winner in his or her next start following the rich futurity. —

John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'futurity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.