oncoming

adjective

on·​com·​ing ˈȯn-ˌkə-miŋ 

ˈän-

1

a

: coming nearer in time or space

the oncoming year

an oncoming car

b

: future

looked forward to his oncoming visit

2

: emergent, rising

the oncoming generation

Synonyms

• approaching
• coming
• forthcoming
• imminent
• impending
• nearing
• pending
• proximate
• upcoming

Examples of oncoming in a Sentence

we're looking forward to your oncoming visit

Recent Examples on the Web

After the festivities, an attendee drifted her car into an oncoming driver, killing a motorist and injuring a passenger on the increasingly deadly Pacific Coast Highway. —Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 July 2024

Michigan Lefts redirect traffic to cut down on left turns across oncoming traffic, which tend to increase the risk of a serious crash. —Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 9 July 2024

Much of the route had no sidewalks, with steep hills and sharp turns, where oncoming traffic was hard to see. —Chris Papst, Baltimore Sun, 9 July 2024

Phoenix police and Waymo officials confirmed the vehicle was driving in an oncoming traffic lane near 7th Avenue and Osborn Road. —Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 2 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

oncoming

adjective

on·​com·​ing ˈȯn-ˌkəm-iŋ 

ˈän-

: coming nearer

oncoming traffic