to-be

adjective

tə-ˈbē 

: 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

The game, originally set to be shown on ESPN, with its new kickoff time will be live on the ESPN App in its entirety in addition to a to-be-determined ESPN network. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2026

No Suffolk University would have meant no internship and, in turn, no wife-to-be. — David Shribman, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Oct. 2026

Other free-agents-to-be include starter Martín Pérez and reliever Brent Suter, plus bench bats Lane Thomas and Dominic Smith. — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 9 Oct. 2026

In 1962, the Dutch state signed an agreement with the foundation, promising to build a museum dedicated to the artist and (crucially) taking responsibility for maintaining the museum-to-be. — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for to-be

• boob
• cube
• lube
• rube
• tube
• hypercube
• nanotube
• phototube

Kids Definition

to-be

adjective

tə-ˈbē

: that is to be : future

—often used in combination

a bride-to-be