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

Where does that leave the soon-to-be Comcast-less NBCUniversal? — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

Family and friends of the soon-to-be newlyweds have also started to arrive in New York ahead of the reported wedding. — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 2 July 2026

Businesses and craftsmen around the world are continuing to post congratulations for the soon-to-be newlyweds. — Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026

Hollywood stars and music industry mainstays typically have access to a much larger budget than the average soon-to-be-weds. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 5 July 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