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
With her political future on the line, Bass sits down with Vanity Fair to discuss her radical past, her powerful allies, and the fight to keep her job. — Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026 Miller is the least predictable variable in the complicated equation of formulating the Bulls’ new future. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Once qualified, they could be assigned to future missions in low Earth orbit and to the Moon, with some potentially playing a role in NASA’s longer-term plans for Mars. — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2026 Also, Kansas City is bidding for future international events like the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2031 and the 2031 Men’s Rugby World Cup and 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 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
  • What happens tomorrow, or right now, that puts us on the path to a brighter future?
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Which means housing built yesterday may not meet tomorrow’s needs, as aging residents, declining birth rates and smaller households change what people need.
    — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of tomorrow
Noun
  • Unfortunately, the device malfunctioned while en route to the observatory, forcing mission engineers to abandon the attempt and leave Swift to its fate.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Although many political experts expect Democrats to flip control of the House this midterm cycle, the Senate‘s fate remains murky.
    — Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of fate
Adjective
  • Its flight rate will undoubtedly accelerate in the coming months, but even at a weekly launch cadence, fueling a Starship for a lunar landing would still require more than four months of dedicated launches.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 29 Oct. 2026
  • This approach arrives at a key moment, preparing the global solar market for the massive influx of panel waste expected in the coming years.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 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
  • This change in roles also leads to a drastic change in the brothers’ destinies.
    — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Israel was founded as a refuge, a place where a people long subjected to persecution and exile could finally determine their own destiny.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of destiny
Adjective
  • Fortune says the Windows and Xbox teams clashed over the OS for an upcoming handheld device in particular.
    — Chris Hoffman, PC Magazine, 28 Oct. 2026
  • While European customers are generally flocking to the European Space Agency’s Ariane 6 rocket, others are booking slots on upcoming medium-lift rockets, such as Rocket Lab’s Neutron rocket.
    — Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of upcoming
Noun
  • The value of a life insurance policy, like any other insurance coverage, however, is relative to the policyholder, their financial circumstances and their goals.
    — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Why should two families in similar circumstances pay such wildly different taxes when all else is equal?
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of circumstance
Adjective
  • The Supreme Court decision scaling back the VRA — and subsequent redistricting efforts in Alabama, Louisiana and Tennessee — threatens to reduce Black representation in Congress.
    — Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Back then, businesses issued statements in favor of a peaceful transfer of power around the 2020 election and subsequent attack on the US Capitol.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 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 3 Nov. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about future

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