future 1 of 2

noun

Definition of futurenext
1
as in tomorrow
time that is to come in the future, there may be medical discoveries that are beyond our fondest dreams

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fate
what is going to happen to someone in the time ahead with such a strong academic record, his future looks bright

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

future

2 of 2

adjective

ˈfyü-chər How to pronounce future (audio)
as in coming
of a time after the present we must preserve our national parks in all their glory so that future generations can experience the majesty of nature

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of future
Noun
But his future is now a story as the Nuggets more closely resemble the unraveling of the Bucks in the last years of Giannis Antetokounmpo than the championship team of 2023. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 20 Aug. 2026 Max Verstappen has ended any uncertainty over his future with Red Bull in Formula 1 by signing a new contract through to the end of 2030. — Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Repealing the de minimis threshold will help level the playing field for American manufacturers and create a more stable framework going forward—one that cannot be changed by a future executive order. — Bill Cassidy, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2026 The winner receives £50,000 ($68,055) to fund future projects. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for future
Recent Examples of Synonyms for future
  1. tomorrow
  2. fate
  3. coming
  4. futurity
  5. destiny
  6. upcoming
  7. circumstance
  8. subsequent
Noun
  • That includes a whopping 50% levy aimed at Canada, which if negotiations fail, will go into effect tomorrow, August 19th.
    — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Though the rally centered on tomorrow’s primary elections, Donalds was already campaigning for the November election.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of tomorrow
Noun
  • The site has now been sequestered and Malosso was ordered to tear down the theater, though its fate remains to be seen.
    — Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • In a brutal twist of fate for USC, just ahead of its Week 0 opener, defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart is now likely to miss the nonconference slate with a foot injury.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of fate
Adjective
  • The most valuable customer of the coming decade may never open your app or click on your ad.
    — Himanshu Sinha, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Such numbers will jump dramatically in the coming years, if all goes to plan.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of coming
Noun
  • Established in 2023, the biennial prize is given in recognition of next-gen multidisciplinary artists working at the intersection of art, media, and technology to explore notions of futurity and transformation.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 4 Nov. 2025
  • This reading list offers resources for engaging with Indigenous thought, resistance, and futurity.
    — JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 11 Oct. 2025
Definition of futurity
Noun
  • He’s confronted by his mysterious past and is hurled into a dangerous adventure across the galaxy that puts him on a crash course with destiny.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Historical legacy is not destiny, and Russia’s excesses cannot be blamed solely on its ties to the political culture of the steppes.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of destiny
Adjective
  • The timing is combustible The launch lands weeks after Apple sued OpenAI, alleging theft of trade secrets and confidential information about upcoming products.
    — Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The upcoming Moto devices won’t ship with GrapheneOS, but they will be fully supported by the project with help from Moto itself.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of upcoming
Noun
  • For those unaware, US visa applications require applicants to reveal any history of drug use, which can result in denial depending on the circumstances.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The exact circumstances leading up to the incident remain under investigation.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of circumstance
Adjective
  • Keeley is all optimism in the buildup to the team’s first game — merely a friendly against Hayes and Yeading, but important nonetheless — but subsequent events threaten to squelch those good feelings.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The directive calls for the Navy to develop a plan to replace the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) with traditional steam catapults on the future USS Doris Miller and subsequent carriers.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of subsequent

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futons
future
futureless
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Cite this Entry

“Future.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/future. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on future

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about future

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