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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
When those decisions go wrong, the cost lands on defendants, victims and anyone whose future turns on what an examiner finds. — Lars Daniel, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026 Sitóe and Valentina are older, but their desire for love and for a different future is completely alive. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026
Adjective
An oversight board could hinder Paramount in what are certain to be future efforts to wring synergies out of a combined company. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026 Overstayers could face penalties under national law, including warnings, fines, detention, and future entry restrictions. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 12 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
  • An Iranian military official said that Qatar has been delaying a probe into the fate of three pilots, whom Iran says have been held there for months, according to state media.
    — Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
  • And sure as fate, three successive hits brought one run in, a walk loaded the bases, and the tying run came to the plate in the figure of Eli White.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of fate
Adjective
  • And experts think such incidents could become increasingly common in the coming years, as exploration of the moon intensifies.
    — Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Bank of America, for example, is still calling for three rate increases in coming months.
    — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 11 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
  • The dissolution of the ghettos in the eighteenth century could be interpreted as tearing down barriers, but now poverty set in and the wealthy separated from those who formerly shared a similar destiny.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than be daunted by scale or fear of the unknown, determination—destiny, even—prod the poet-philosopher up this craggy citadel to glory.
    — A.D. Amorosi, SPIN, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of destiny
Adjective
  • The San Antonio Spurs’ schedule for the upcoming season includes games in France and England, with a league-high 34 appearances on national TV.
    — Jared Weiss, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The musician gave an update on her upcoming album — and opened up about a startling 2019 health scare.
    — Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of upcoming
Noun
  • Police said Brown is from Alabama and has an outstanding failure-to-appear warrant connected to a case there involving similar circumstances about five years ago.
    — CBS News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Reiner has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder with special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and lying in wait.
    — Madeline Morrison, NBC news, 18 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

Browse Nearby Words

futons
future
futureless
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Future.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/future. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on future

Nglish: Translation of future for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about future

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of divulge

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All